School profile

St Thomas Becket Catholic School

Secondary · Academy converter · Northampton, NN3 6HT

Good

Map showing St Thomas Becket Catholic School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,428 of 3,312

Worse than 73% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#571 of 2,536

Better than 77% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

St Thomas Becket Catholic School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 8 Nov 2022

Ofsted rating
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Sixth form provision
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils912
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Paul McCahill
TrustOUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST LTD
Local authorityWest Northamptonshire
Opened01 Apr 2016
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 142747.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolWest NorthamptonshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.41.5, worse than England, worse than West Northamptonshire4646.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.52.8%, worse than England, worse than West Northamptonshire65.6%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.38.7%, worse than England, worse than West Northamptonshire45.4%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.11.7%, worse than England, similar to West Northamptonshire13.1%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths46%, worse than England, worse than West Northamptonshire60.4%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4163--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolWest NorthamptonshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.38.47, better than England, better than West Northamptonshire34.1535
Average A-level gradeB--
Average points, best three A-levels38.44, better than England, better than West Northamptonshire34.8635.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB--
AAB or better26.7%, better than England, better than West Northamptonshire14.8%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.75, better than England--
A-level progressWell above average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study42--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils912
Girls446
Boys466
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.28.9%
First language not English39.7%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,136
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.19.7%
Sixth form places2024/25256
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.136
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.29
Average class size19.7

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
38.7%
Other White
15.6%
African
12.5%
Other mixed
10.4%
Indian
8.6%
White and Black Caribbean
3.1%
White and Black African
1.9%
Other ethnic group
1.2%
White and Asian
1%
Other Asian
1%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher19.4
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.14.6
Teachers (FTE)47.04
Teaching assistants (FTE)6.54
Support staff (FTE)24.28
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2554.8
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2543
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/258.8

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.178
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.353
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.77
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.77
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)1

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolWest NorthamptonshireEngland
Overall absence8.5%, similar to England, worse than West Northamptonshire7.8%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.26.6%, worse than England, worse than West Northamptonshire20.7%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.5%, worse than England, worse than West Northamptonshire3.8%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate65.9%
Pupils with one or more suspensions19%
Permanent exclusion rate0.2%
Permanent exclusions2

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.90.8%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.88.7%
Further education58.9%
School sixth form29.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.7.8%
Apprenticeship2.1%
Sixth form college0%
Employment0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.83%
Higher education63.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.14.9%
Employment12.8%
Further education4.3%
Apprenticeship2.1%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near St Thomas Becket Catholic School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.3 miNurseryParklands Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school
Good
0.4 miPrimaryBoothville Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.4 miPrimaryParklands Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.6 miSecondaryNorthampton School for GirlsAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.6 miPrimarySt Gregory's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miPrimaryEastfield AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.8 miPrimaryThe Arbours Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Outstanding
0.9 miPrimaryThorplands Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.0 miPrimaryHeadlands Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.0 miSecondaryWeston Favell AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about St Thomas Becket Catholic School

What is St Thomas Becket Catholic School's Ofsted rating?

St Thomas Becket Catholic School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 8 Nov 2022.

How does St Thomas Becket Catholic School rank in England?

St Thomas Becket Catholic School ranks 2,428 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 73% of schools) and 571 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 77% of schools).

What are St Thomas Becket Catholic School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 38.7% of pupils at St Thomas Becket Catholic School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 41.5 (England 46.2).

What are St Thomas Becket Catholic School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at St Thomas Becket Catholic School was B, and 26.7% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into St Thomas Becket Catholic School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, St Thomas Becket Catholic School made 178 offers from 353 applications (2 per offer), and 77 of 77 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend St Thomas Becket Catholic School?

St Thomas Becket Catholic School has 912 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of St Thomas Becket Catholic School?

St Thomas Becket Catholic School had 1,136 school places in 2024/25.

Does St Thomas Becket Catholic School have a sixth form?

Yes, St Thomas Becket Catholic School has a sixth form with 256 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at St Thomas Becket Catholic School?

At St Thomas Becket Catholic School, the average class had 19.7 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 19.4 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at St Thomas Becket Catholic School?

In 2025/26, pupils at St Thomas Becket Catholic School missed 8.5% of sessions (England 8%), and 26.6% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.