Lincroft Academy
Bedford, MK43 7RE · Bedford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
3rd 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 the 697 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.8/10 among them, against 7.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 55.7 · 74 | 46% | 3.44 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.4 · 79 | 38% | 3.04 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.4 · 71 | 15% | 1.10 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lincroft Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 48.1% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.4 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally starting from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.9 out of 10 among them, against 6.6 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 923 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 improve their Progress 8 scores? What specific steps are taken to help students reach grade 5 in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about Lincroft Academy
Overview
Lincroft Academy has made "significant improvements" since its previous inspection, with leaders raising expectations and enhancing opportunities for pupils. The school is described as a "welcoming community" where pupils enjoy learning in a calm environment and achieve highly in national exams.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from an "ambitious curriculum" enriched by meaningful trips, such as visits to Berlin and London theatre productions.
- Staff provide effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including those in the on-site specially resourced provision.
- Behaviour has improved significantly, with disruptions being rare and addressed "swiftly and effectively" by adults.
- The school’s reading strategy, including the "Powerful Words programme," helps pupils build ambitious vocabulary and understand complex texts.
- Leaders, trustees, and governors work effectively to drive improvements, with many parents appreciating the progress made.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must provide clearer feedback and use assessment more effectively to ensure all pupils receive the guidance needed to improve their work.
- Adults need to maintain consistently high expectations of pupil engagement, intervening promptly when focus wanes to ensure work meets the curriculum challenge.
- The school should educate pupils further on respect regarding gender and sexual orientation, and build trust so pupils feel confident reporting unkind language.
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 | 51.4 |
| 2024/25 | 45.0 |
| 2025/26 | 50.4 |
| 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
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