Manshead Church of England Academy
Luton, LU1 4BB · Central Bedfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th of 16 secondary schools in Central Bedfordshire we can score, 27 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 921 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6/10 among them, against 1.9/10 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 | 9 | 35% | 0.30 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 34.2 · 23 | 30% | 0.69 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.53 · 15 | 25% | 0.36 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.9 · 15 | 10% | 0.15 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Manshead Church of England Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.2% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.53 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.0 out of 10 among them, against 2.6 out of 10 nationally. Ofsted inspected the school in February 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Homework Support Club and sports teams. The school organises gallery visits and trips to London, and an after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,134 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,350. 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 in Progress 8 scores? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8? How does the new Ofsted framework affect current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Manshead Church of England Academy
Overview
Manshead Church of England Academy is described as a school where pupils feel part of a "caring school community rooted in its Christian ethos." While personal development and post-16 provision meet the expected standard, the report identifies that achievement, attendance, behaviour, curriculum delivery, inclusion, and leadership all require attention to ensure consistent improvement.
Strengths
- Pupils’ personal development is central to school life, with staff promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through activities like "drop down days" and a "personal development week."
- The sixth form offers a "well-structured academic, pastoral and personal experience," with students receiving high-quality careers guidance and achieving well.
- Pupils demonstrate "mutual respect and understanding," contributing positively to the local community through food bank support and the "Christmas appeal."
- Behaviour is generally "calm, orderly and respectful," with bullying reported as rare and incidents dealt with swiftly.
- Staff promote a strong culture of care, using mentoring and restorative approaches to help pupils re-engage.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure the curriculum is taught consistently well so pupils gain detailed knowledge, particularly addressing inconsistent teaching in key stage 3.
- Attendance for all groups, including disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, needs to be improved as overall absence remains low.
- Leaders should identify pupils’ needs and barriers to learning precisely, ensuring consistent support for those finding reading a challenge.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.8 |
| 2024/25 | 43.0 |
| 2025/26 | 38.9 |
| 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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