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Bedford Academy

Bedford, MK42 9TR · Bedford · secondary school

Ofsted: Good · 2023 Inspected 3 years ago Mixed Secondary
5.2/10 Broadly average

6th of 13 secondary schools in Bedford we can score, 14 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.

Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.5/10 against 551 of them, against 5.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.

How this is worked out
MeasurePercentileWeightAdds
Ofsted 52 35% 1.81
Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 37.8 · 34 30% 1.03
Progress 8 2023/24 0.43 · 81 25% 2.01
Attainment 8 2024/25 42.8 · 34 10% 0.34

Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.

Get to know the school

How it's doing. The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023. In 2024/25, 37.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.43 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.2 out of 10 against all schools).

Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join music clubs, play football, basketball, or dance.

Getting in. There are 1375 pupils in a school with 1500 places, leaving 125 spare places. The school has a little room, but is fairly full.

Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support pupils who need extra help to reach the national median in attainment? What specific music ensembles or performance opportunities are available for students? How does the school manage the transition for new students joining a fairly full cohort?

Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.

Your offer chance

Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.

Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.

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