Icknield High School
Luton, LU3 2AH · Luton · secondary school
Check the area around this school
5th of 13 secondary schools in Luton we can score. 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 — 8.9/10 against 855 of them, against 7.7/10 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 | 56.1 · 75 | 30% | 2.26 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.54 · 85 | 25% | 2.13 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.3 · 62 | 10% | 0.62 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Icknield High School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in March 2024. In 2024/25, 57.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.54 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 (9.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,452 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,445. 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
With a Progress 8 score of +0.54, what specific support is available for pupils who need to maintain that trajectory? How does the school structure its curriculum to ensure students achieve the 57.7% pass rate in core subjects?
What Ofsted said about Icknield High School
Overview
Icknield High School is rated as ‘Good’ across all inspection categories, including overall effectiveness, the quality of education, and leadership. Pupils are described as proud of their school, demonstrating a ‘positive approach to learning’ and high standards of work. The report highlights a well-designed curriculum and strong relationships between pupils and staff, though it identifies specific areas for development in teaching methods and personal development provision.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘well designed and informed by the latest research’, with knowledge organised clearly to aid retention and understanding.
- The school’s approach to reading is ‘well developed’, ensuring pupils access challenging texts and receive support to become ‘capable readers’.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) is ‘effective’ and recognised by the local authority as ‘worthy of sharing with other schools’.
- Behaviour is generally excellent, with ‘disruptive behaviour in lessons’ being rare and bullying described as ‘rare’.
- Safeguarding arrangements are ‘effective’, with staff being ‘vigilant to signs of potential harm’ and acting swiftly when necessary.
Areas to improve
- Staff must provide pupils with ‘meaningful opportunities to discuss what they are learning’ to deepen understanding through articulation and debate.
- The school must ensure all Key Stage 4 pupils receive the full personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) programme in the ‘depth and detail intended’ to prepare them for adult life.
Safeguarding
The report states that ‘the arrangements for safeguarding are effective’, noting that safeguarding has a ‘high profile across the school’ and that staff work well with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.6 |
| 2024/25 | 49.4 |
| 2025/26 | 48.3 |
| 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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