Welcome

Our school dates back to 1535, when the rector of St Peter and St Paul directed one of his curates to "instruct boys of the parish". The Church of England went on to establish four more schools in Kettering over the years, including the parochial school which was opened in 1819 in the Horsemarket.

This old town school survived until 1965 when a purpose-built Secondary Modern institution was opened in Headlands as a much needed replacement. The late Robert Stopford, who was Bishop of Peterborough at the time, agreed to the new School being named after him and thereby endorsed the continuity of Church-inspired education in Kettering and throughout the diocese. Bishop Stopford School quickly established itself, soon introduced a Sixth Form and eventually admitted its first full

Comprehensive intake in 1976. It has been oversubscribed almost ever since. The School has also benefitted from an extensive programme of new buildings and refurbishment over the years to meet the demands of modern-day students and a changing curriculum.

The number-on-roll has more than doubled since 1965 to approximately 1450 students, with a Sixth Form of over 350. Exam results tend to be well above county and national averages. The School, today, is a large, forward-thinking and high-achieving organisation with a unique heritage and distinctive identity. But our Common Purpose remains as ever – to provide high quality education with a strong Christian ethos.

Every student joins a tutor group of approximately twenty seven who are selected from across the ability range. It meets for registration twice a day and is designed to be an important source of continuity and support. There are generally eight tutor groups in each Year Group which is led by a Head of Year who in turn reports to an Assistant Head (Lower or Upper School). 

First contact from parents is best directed to the tutor unless the circumstances are extreme. Two short reports and one long report are issued every year and either consultation evenings or progress-review days are organised for direct contact between staff and parents. Students are mainly taught in mixed ability groups during Year 7 but setting according to ability and options becomes more dominant from Year 8 onwards. 

Staff offer guidance and support in both their tutor and subject teacher roles. There are specialist staff known as the Learning Support Team who assist students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and especially those with a ‘statement’. All our staff, however, pay attention to any student who has an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Schemes of work contain guidelines on extension activities for the ‘very able’. There are also occasional day courses organised with the needs of this minority in mind. 

Personal and Social Education (PSE) is a non-exam course aiming to provide guidance and support for life beyond School. Careers Education is an integral part of this course from Year 9 whilst Sex and Relationships Education includes reference to contraception and the importance of the family. Drugs Education is also part of the PSE scheme from Year 7 onwards. School policies include a clear stand against bullying and racism. The essential aim of all guidance and support is to establish good communications between students, staff and parents. This is characterised by our Home-School Partnership.