Biddenham International School and Sports College
Bedford, MK40 4AZ · Bedford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 12 secondary schools in Bedford we can score, 13 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 — 5.2/10 against 629 of them, against 3.7/10 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
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.2 · 25 | 30% | 0.74 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.12 · 58 | 25% | 1.46 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.3 · 21 | 10% | 0.21 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Biddenham International School and Sports College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.12 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 (6.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2025.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Biddenham Dance Company and Biddenham Gold Stars. Arts activities include Body Conditioning, dance performance showcases, a School Musical, and dance workshops. The school also organises theatre trips.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,422 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,500. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between the current Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Biddenham International School and Sports College
Overview
Biddenham International School and Sports College has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The report describes attending the school as “rewarding,” with pupils seeing themselves as “one united family” within a “highly inclusive and supportive environment.” Leaders have successfully moved the school forward in areas such as literacy and curriculum development, supported by effective governance.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a “well-rounded education” with a curriculum that is “broad” and “thoughtfully matched to their interests and aspirations.”
- The school has a “highly effective approach to developing reading,” using tiered support to help pupils “improve their literacy skills exceptionally well.”
- Staff “identify and meet the needs of pupils with SEND diligently,” ensuring they access the curriculum successfully.
- There is a strong culture of “positive relationships” that makes the school a “welcoming place to be,” positively impacting well-being.
- Pupils are “comprehensively prepared for life beyond school” through rich personal development education and diverse extracurricular opportunities.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must ensure they “check how well pupils are learning and respond effectively to this,” particularly where pupils have gaps in understanding.
- Staff should avoid delivering “too much content... without stopping to check how well pupils have understood it,” which currently limits some pupils’ ability to “consolidate and deepen their knowledge.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.4 |
| 2024/25 | 42.1 |
| 2025/26 | 40.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
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.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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