New secondary school for Kettering’s Hanwood Park development welcomed

15 December 2025

North Northamptonshire Council has welcomed the announcement from Government that a new secondary school will be built in Kettering.

The school will be funded by the Department for Education and will be located in the Hanwood Park area of the town – one of the largest new housing developments in the area.

It will cater for pupils from Year 7 up to sixth form. It is also proposed to incorporate special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) facilities that will support inclusion in a mainstream setting for up to 45 pupils. The number of SEND places has more than doubled from the initial 20 places proposed in the original application, to reflect the growing demand for SEND places both locally and nationally.

When completed, the school will be run by the Orbis Education Trust. An exact opening date has yet to be established, but a more detailed timeline will be announced in the New Year.

This is fantastic news for families in North Northamptonshire and I’m delighted that the government has recognised the need for additional school places, including SEND places, in our area, particularly in Kettering. It’s doubly good news as the project will be funded by the government as part of a wider scheme across the country.Cllr Elizabeth Wright, Executive Member for Children, Families and Education, at North Northamptonshire Council

It is so important that our sustainable urban extensions in North Northamptonshire deliver the schools and community facilities that our young people and families need to thrive.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council

The Hanwood Park secondary school project has been much anticipated locally and will form part of the wider 5,500 home Hanwood Park Garden Community which to date has delivered approximately 1,700 new homes. The deliverability of the new secondary school is a key component for the successful delivery of this critical housing growth project.

There has been strong community engagement throughout the process – including an earlier public campaign to ensure the school met needs for both boys and girls, and to ensure the voices of children and families were heard.  

Steph Roberts, Chief executive of Orbis Education Trust, said: “We are delighted that the government has given the final go-ahead for the new much needed school at Hanwood Park in Kettering. Our proposal for this school has received support from the local community and is an exciting opportunity to provide an exceptional new school and give parents further choice in the Kettering area while adding another world-class school into the growing Orbis family.

“We are tremendously excited at this opportunity and look forward to working with parents and the wider community to make Hanwood Park school one we can all be proud of.”