Pitsford School Review 2026: Nurturing Co-education in 30 Acres

Set within 30 acres of rolling Northamptonshire parkland, Pitsford School balances the grandeur of its setting with a distinctly modern, family-focused ethos. Founded in 1989, the school occupies Pitsford Hall, a Grade II listed Georgian building that serves as the architectural heart of the campus. As a co-educational day school for ages 3 to 18, it avoids the sheer scale of larger competitors, maintaining a capacity of around 440 students. This size allows for a genuine "small school" feel where every face is known, yet the facilities—including a modern sports centre and dedicated science blocks—suggest an institution with larger ambitions.

Dr Craig Walker, Headmaster since 2019, leads a school that prides itself on being "big enough to compete, small enough to care". The atmosphere is noticeably calmer than many independent senior schools. At drop-off, the mix of Junior and Senior students sharing the site creates a cohesive community feel rather than two separate schools sharing a fence. The school motto, Dum Spiro Spero (While I breathe, I hope), is woven into the fabric of school life, emphasizing resilience over raw academic pressure.

The estate itself plays a major role in the daily experience. Students move between the historic Hall and modern classroom blocks, with green space used actively for both sport and recreation. There is a lack of pretension here; the school feels grounded and accessible, prioritising individual confidence over hothouse academics.

Pitsford operates with a broad ability intake, and results should be viewed in this context rather than compared directly to highly selective academic factories.

In 2024, the school ranked 2,819th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). While this places performance in the national lower band compared to all schools in England, it reflects the school's inclusive admissions policy. The average Attainment 8 score of 44 indicates that students generally achieve grades 4 and 5 (standard and strong passes), securing the qualifications needed for their next steps.

At A-level, performance is stronger, ranking 1,105th in England. This sits in the national typical band, reflecting solid performance in line with the middle 35% of schools in England. In 2024, 41.7% of grades were A*-B, and nearly 13% of entries secured the top A* grade.

Small class sizes are the defining feature of the academic approach. Teachers have the time to identify specific hurdles for individual students, often intervening before a minor misunderstanding becomes a major gap in knowledge. The curriculum follows a traditional structure but allows for flexibility.

In the Junior School, specialist teaching is introduced early, particularly in languages, music, and sport. By the time students reach the Senior School, the focus shifts to subject specialism. The sciences are taught in dedicated laboratories, and the school has maintained a commitment to separate sciences at GCSE for capable students. Support for learning is integrated rather than bolted on, with clinics and one-to-one sessions available for those needing reinforcement.

The Sixth Form is a natural destination for many Year 11 students, though some do move on to local colleges for vocational courses. For the 2024 cohort, government data records that 45% of leavers progressed to university.

While the majority of students head to a range of universities across the UK, there are notable individual successes at the highest level. In the most recent cycle, one student secured a place at Oxbridge, representing a 50% success rate from the two who applied. This demonstrates that while the cohort is mixed ability, the ceiling for the most able students remains high. Popular recent destinations include Warwick, Loughborough, and Bath.

Pitsford is academically selective but looks for potential and character as much as raw scores. For entry into the Senior School (Year 7), candidates sit an entrance assessment, typically in January, which covers English, Mathematics, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. A short interview with the Headmaster is a crucial part of the process, used to gauge whether a child will thrive in the school's close-knit environment.

For the Junior School and Nursery, the process is gentler, involving a taster day where staff observe the child's social interaction and readiness for learning.

The pastoral system is built around the House structure—Hesketh, Robinson, Wake, and Balcombe—which provides vertical integration across year groups. This ensures that younger students have mentors and role models, while older students learn leadership. The 2022 ISI inspection rated the quality of pupils' personal development as Excellent, noting that students demonstrate high levels of self-knowledge and resilience.

Wellbeing is not treated as a separate subject but is embedded in the daily routine. Form tutors act as the first point of contact, and the small size of the school means that changes in a student's demeanour are spotted quickly.

The extracurricular programme is robust for a school of this size. Sport is a central pillar, with the purpose-built sports centre and extensive playing fields hosting fixtures in rugby, netball, cricket, and athletics. The school competes locally and consistently punches above its weight in district competitions.

Music and drama are equally visible. The choir performs regularly, and there are designated practice rooms for individual tuition. Clubs range from the expected (Duke of Edinburgh Award, Debating Society) to the specific, such as the Lego Robotics club and various art collaborations. The "activities afternoon" is a protected part of the weekly timetable, ensuring every student engages with something outside the syllabus.

For the 2024/2025 academic year, Senior School fees are £5,555 per term (£16,665 annually). Junior School fees range from £3,895 to £4,545 per term depending on the year group. Nursery fees are available on the school website.

Financial assistance is available through means-tested bursaries, which can cover up to 30% of fees for eligible families. The school also offers scholarships, including the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Scholarship (academic potential) and the Keith Duckworth Scholarship (Engineering/Science focus), which can offer fee remission of 30-50%.

The school day runs from 8:40am to 3:50pm. Wraparound care is available, particularly valuable for parents of younger children. Breakfast club starts at 7:45am, and after-school supervision is available until 6:00pm. An extensive network of school bus routes covers Northamptonshire, making the school accessible from Northampton, Market Harborough, and surrounding villages.

• Broad Ability Intake: This is not an academic hothouse. Families seeking a highly pressured, league-table-topping environment may find the pace here too gentle. The focus is on value-added progress rather than exclusively A* grades.
• Small Cohort Size: With around 440 students aged 3-18, year groups are small. This ensures excellent attention but limits the pool of peers for socialising and team sports compared to large comprehensives.
• Fees: While competitive for the sector, fees are a significant commitment. Families should budget for the annual increases typical of the independent sector.

Pitsford School offers a nurturing, human-scale education where no child is invisible. It combines the aesthetic and facilities of a country house school with a grounded, modern approach to learning. Best suited to families seeking a supportive, well-rounded environment where confidence is built alongside qualifications, rather than a ruthless pursuit of grades at any cost.