Headteacher's Welcome

I would like to extend a warm welcome as you visit our website today. Bishop Stopford School is a vibrant, ethical place to learn. I am proud to lead an amazing staff team who commit to unlocking the unique potential of each young person entrusted to our care.

We are the only Church of England secondary school in North Northamptonshire, and one of only three in the Diocese of Peterborough.

All that we do is based on our five Core Values which Ofsted in 2025 recognise as being "deeply embedded". Inspectors said, "They inspire pupils to be the best versions of themselves as they engage wholeheartedly with all aspects of school life".  Our Outstanding SIAMS inspection report concurs, ‘Five deeply embedded, long-established, Christian values, which are relevant to everyone, create an ethos in which harmonious and respectful relationships enable everyone to flourish.’ 

Wonderful relationships are a hallmark of our school: the sense of community is palpable. This is intentionally developed in every aspect of school life - from lessons, to trips and visits, sports events and the plethora of other activities on offer. 

As a Church of England school, our Christian ethos is central to all that we do. We are blessed by an active chaplaincy, superb RE provision and close links with church communities. Our logo (which mirrors that of the Diocese of Peterborough) emphasises our strong traditions and symbolises all of our work. We are in the business of helping our students to find the keys to unlock their unique potential and enable them to face the future with confidence.

Last year, our exam results placed us in the top 1% of schools in the country for progress. This is tribute to the expertise of teaching staff in each academic field. 

However, the great education we offer is about so much more than exam performance. Our Intent describes our ambition in detail. The many awards we achieve - some of which you can see at the bottom of this page - show how well we are achieving in line with that intent. 

Our students are definitely our best advert! As Ofsted noted in 2025, "Behaviour is exemplary throughout the school". Visitors always comment on students' politeness, character and self-confidence. We expect everyone to live out our core values of faith, justice, responsibility, truth and compassion. We are always delighted when parents and alumni share with us how much they value our approach. 

It will be no surprise, therefore, that one of the secrets of our strength is our partnership with families. Parents and carers know their children far better than we do, and we learn to do our job well by listening to them. Parents are always welcome to contact us to seek advice or reassurance. It goes without saying that keeping children safe will always be a priority for us.

I hope that you enjoy looking at our website which is just one window into our school. I would encourage you to visit us at our ‘Open’ events to discover for yourself what makes Bishop Stopford School truly unique.

Jill Silverthorne, Headteacher