Rutland's primary schools have significant capacity while its secondaries are full to the brim, according to the latest report by the local education authority. 

Latest figures show all three of the state-run secondary schools in Rutland, at Uppingham, Oakham and Casterton are just about at or over 100 per cent capacity, while the primaries – particularly those in Uppingham – are not full. 

The unusual situation is due to almost half of secondary school applications in Rutland coming from outside the county, which is not the case at primary phase. 

A report to be discussed by the schools forum this week lays out the data, which has to be sent each year to the department for education. Local authorities also have a responsibility to plan for school places, looking at considerations such as birth rate and housing development schedules to try and gauge how many children will be coming through each year group each year. 



Map of schools in Rutland (Photo: LDRS)

The report, which has been compiled by the business intelligence officer David Wylie, says: 

"In 2024/25 the primary schools across Rutland were at 79.5 per cent capacity with 2,629 places provided in total across the 17 primaries.  

"The Casteron group of seven primaries was the most full, at 86.5 per cent capacity, or 913 places. It is predicted that this figure will increase slightly in the coming academic year. 

"In Oakham the capacity rate across the collective six primaries in the town is 81.6 per cent which equates to 1,188 pupils. The report notes there was a low intake this September into reception and the numbers are predicted to drop to 75.2 per cent capacity in the 2028/29 academic year. 

"In Uppingham the schools are at just 63 per cent full with 526 pupils across the four primaries in the market town. This is expected to reduce further to 61.9 per cent in the 2028/29 academic year. 

"In contrast Uppingham's only state secondary school is over capacity. There are 920 students currently studying at the school, which is 100.5 per cent capacity and this is expected to go up slightly from September to 926 pupils. The school takes many pupils from the neighbouring counties of Northamptonshire and Rutland and a previous school forum was told that 57 per cent of pupils live outside Rutland. Casterton College is also over capacity with 904 pupils and Catmose College in Oakham has 1097 students and is at 94.8 per cent capacity." 

The numbers will be discussed by the school's forum on Thursday (March 13). The forum is a body made up of school leaders.