Revealed: The most oversubscribed primary and secondary schools in Northampton in 2025 – and how many unhappy parents appealed

Hundreds of children in Northampton missed out on a place at their preferred school for September 2025, new figures show, as demand once again outstripped supply at several of the town’s most popular schools.

Data released by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Chronicle & Echo shows that 217 secondary school pupils and 42 primary-age children were not offered a place at any of their top three school choices.

The figures show continued pressure on school places, particularly at secondary schools, where some were oversubscribed by several hundred pupils.

Most oversubscribed secondary schools

The most oversubscribed secondary schools in Northampton for September 2025 were:

• Northampton School – 936 applications for 222 places

• Northampton School for Boys – 925 applications for 230 places

• Northampton Academy – 919 applications for 300 places

• Wootton Park School – 889 applications for 120 places

• Northampton School for Girls – 650 applications for 270 places

Most oversubscribed primary schools

Demand was also high at several primary schools, many of which had more than double the number of applications compared to places available. The most oversubscribed were:

• Wootton Park School – 198 applications for 60 places

• Buckton Fields Primary School – 148 applications for 60 places

• Duston Eldean Primary School – 148 applications for 60 places

• Simon de Senlis Primary School – 148 applications for 60 places

• The Radstone Primary School – 143 applications for 60 places

• Bracken Leas Primary School – 140 applications for 60 places

• Whitehills Primary School – 137 applications for 60 places

• Preston Hedges Primary School – 134 applications for 60 places

• The Duston School – 131 applications for 60 places

Appeals outcomes

Parents unhappy with the school offered to their child lodged dozens of appeals.

For secondary schools:

• 42 appeals were heard, with 21 upheld

For primary schools:

• 22 Reception appeals were heard, with two upheld

• Five Year 3 appeals were heard for junior school transfers, with one upheld

An upheld appeal means the child was granted a place at the school requested.

WNC said it does not hold information on how many children were allocated a school outside their catchment area.

The admissions figures are based on National Offer Day information for September 2025 entry.