Kempston Academy
Bedford, MK42 7EB · Bedford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
11th 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.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 2.5/10 against 808 of them, against 2.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 29.1 · 14 | 30% | 0.42 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.09 · 43 | 25% | 1.08 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.4 · 13 | 10% | 0.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kempston Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.09 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.3 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join guitar and keyboard clubs, cheerleading, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The school also stages School Shows and organises a trip to New York city. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 773 pupils against a stated capacity of 982. 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 their Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific support is offered for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How does the after-school club integrate with the academic curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Kempston Academy
Overview
Kempston Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The report highlights an "increasing sense of pride across the school community" and notes that standards are improving across most subjects. Leaders have addressed previous declines in behaviour and attendance, resulting in a "much improved" quality of education.
Strengths
- The curriculum is described as "ambitious and well thought out," with pupils revisiting previous learning to improve long-term retention.
- Pupils feel safe in an "inclusive culture" that is "friendly and welcoming," with new arrivals settling in quickly.
- There is a strong focus on reading, with the library being a "busy place" and targeted support helping younger readers catch up.
- The school provides effective careers education, ensuring pupils are "well prepared to move on to the next stage in education, employment and/or training."
- Staff benefit from consideration of their workload and well-being, appreciating leaders’ visibility and an "open door" policy.
Areas to improve
- Staff should be "routinely consistent in using assessment information to target in-class interventions precisely" to address knowledge gaps, particularly for some pupils with SEND.
- The school should build on relationships with families to address remaining barriers so that attendance for all pupil groups continues to improve.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective" and that responsibilities are well understood and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.3 |
| 2024/25 | 40.3 |
| 2025/26 | 38.4 |
| 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
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of MK42 7EB, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT