Parents and carers in West Northamptonshire are being invited to test a new online tool designed by the Department for Education to help families compare state secondary schools. The trial, supported by West Northamptonshire Council, allows local families to explore school information in a single, centralised location.
The new service, known as School Profiles, brings together a variety of data that was previously found in different locations. Users can view information regarding school policies, curriculum details, extra-curricular activities, admissions guidance, and academic performance data for schools across the region and beyond.
The tool is currently in a beta trial phase, and the government is seeking feedback from a small number of parents in the area to help refine the system before it is rolled out across the country. Residents can access the service at beta.schoolprofiles.education.gov.uk, where they are also able to submit their comments and suggestions through an online survey.
This initiative follows the main application process for secondary school places for students starting in September 2026, for which the deadline passed on 31 October 2025, with final offers being issued on 2 March 2026. The trial is intended to assist parents and carers as they navigate information about local education options.
Cllr Michael Stratton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at West Northamptonshire Council, which serves the communities of Northampton, Daventry, and South Northamptonshire, noted that the council is supporting the effort to improve how information is shared with families. The council emphasises that this tool is led by the Department for Education and serves as an information resource for parents.
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