Eastfield Academy crowned primary school of the year! Celebrating excellence, ambition and community spirit
Eastfield Academy is celebrating a remarkable double victory after being named Primary School of the Year and receiving the Environmental & Sustainability Award at the 2025 Northamptonshire Education Awards.
Located in Northampton’s Eastfield community, the academy has long been recognised for its strong values, inclusive culture and ambitious ethos. The school proudly states that “the community is at its HEART”, with HEART standing for Harmoniously Everyone Achieves Results Together, a principle reflected throughout school life.
The judges praised Eastfield’s commitment to developing confident, capable and socially responsible young people, saying:
“The school offer a range of strategies and a wealth of experienced staff embedding proficiency beyond the classroom, creating well-rounded, thoughtful and ambitious young citizens.”
Eastfield’s academic, pastoral and enrichment successes have continued to raise its profile locally and nationally. The academy has been National Debate Finalists for two consecutive years, demonstrating that its pupils can compete at the highest levels, often outperforming schools with significantly greater resources.
The school’s second award highlights its leadership in climate responsibility and eco-education. Eastfield’s environmental achievements include a pupil-led Eco-Council, wildlife planting, energy-saving initiatives, expanded recycling schemes, community clean-up projects and a curriculum enriched with sustainability learning. Staff also contribute to sustainability development across the David Ross Education Trust.
Principal, Peter Fairbrother, said: “We are incredibly proud of our community and the continual hard work by our dedicated staff. These awards recognise the commitment, resilience, and unwavering enthusiasm of all our pupils. Eastfield Academy continues to prove that with the right support and values, every child can achieve excellence. This isn’t just about academic success, it’s about nurturing well-rounded, confident, compassionate children who thrive both in the classroom and beyond, demonstrating aspiration, courage, respect, and ambition in all that they do, and building strong social, emotional, and personal skills that prepare them for life.”
Eastfield Academy serves one of the most deprived areas in the county, yet continues to deliver outcomes and opportunities that transform lives. Eastfield’s double win reflects the dedication, hard work and HEART of our staff, pupils and families. We are incredibly proud of our school and look forward to continuing to represent DRET with excellence, innovation and community spirit.