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catchment.school

Bishop Stopford School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Bishop Stopford School is an academy converter secondary school in Kettering, North Northamptonshire , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1459 pupils, and a capacity of 1383 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

11-18

Age range

1,459

Pupils

1,383

Capacity

105%

Fill rate

Requires improvement

Ofsted 2022

Bishop Stopford School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Bishop Stopford School?

The catchment area for Bishop Stopford School is the geographic zone North Northamptonshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. North Northamptonshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Admission to Bishop Stopford School is managed by North Northamptonshire and typically includes both faith criteria and catchment area proximity. The weighting given to each criterion depends on the school's published oversubscription policy, which is reviewed annually.

Currently oversubscribed: 1459 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1383 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when North Northamptonshire publishes the 2027 Bishop Stopford School numbers →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by North Northamptonshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find North Northamptonshire catchment area documents →

Bishop Stopford School: at or above its 1383 place limit

Bishop Stopford School has a published admission number of 1383 places. 1459 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 105%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1383 places. North Northamptonshire allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 6.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Kettering.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

North Northamptonshire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find North Northamptonshire school admissions →

Bishop Stopford School: School Information

Full address
Headlands, Kettering, NN15 6BJ
Local authority
North Northamptonshire
School type
Academy converter
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-18 years
Religious character
Church of England
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
6.9% of pupils
DfE URN
137086

Other Secondary Schools in Kettering

If Bishop Stopford School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Kettering are the next closest alternatives.

Other Church of England Schools in North Northamptonshire

Bishop Stopford School shares its religious character with these Church of England schools across North Northamptonshire. Faith criteria typically sit alongside catchment distance in each school's admissions policy.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Bishop Stopford School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bishop Stopford School

What is the catchment area for Bishop Stopford School?

The catchment area for Bishop Stopford School is the geographic zone North Northamptonshire uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and, in most years, faith-based criteria. North Northamptonshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Bishop Stopford School oversubscribed?

Yes, Bishop Stopford School currently has 1459 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1383 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Bishop Stopford School?

Bishop Stopford School uses both faith criteria and catchment area proximity in its admissions policy. The weighting is reviewed annually and published by North Northamptonshire before each admissions cycle.

What age range does Bishop Stopford School cover?

Bishop Stopford School is a secondary school in Kettering, North Northamptonshire, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Bishop Stopford School?

Bishop Stopford School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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