Mark Rutherford School
Bedford, MK41 8PX · Bedford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
12th 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 — 2.9/10 against 808 of them, against 2.7/10 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 | 17 | 35% | 0.59 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 28.3 · 13 | 30% | 0.38 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.05 · 46 | 25% | 1.16 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.7 · 23 | 10% | 0.23 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Mark Rutherford School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 39.5% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 in 2023/24 was -0.05, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.0 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in November 2025 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in theatre, places of work, adventure residential centres, Camps International expeditions, and Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,150 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,243. 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 current Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the Duke of Edinburgh awards integrated into the weekly timetable?
What Ofsted said about Mark Rutherford School
Overview
The report describes a school where leaders have successfully transformed the culture and ethos since the last inspection. Pupils behave extremely well, displaying deep respect for one another and a strong sense of community. While most pupils achieve well and feel safe, post-16 outcomes remain below national averages, and writing quality requires further development.
Strengths
- Attendance and behaviour are rated at a "strong standard," with pupils being "polite and respectful" and bullying being "even rarer."
- Inclusion is rated at a "strong standard," with the needs of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) being "well met" through high-quality adaptations.
- Leaders have established an "open culture" for safeguarding, ensuring concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- Staff are described as having "deep knowledge" of their subjects, delivering teaching that is "generally precise and effective."
- The personal development programme has been redesigned to foster a "caring, tolerant, respectful school community."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure strategies to improve learning and achievement in the post-16 provision become "embedded," as historical outcomes have been low.
- Leaders should ensure the new writing curriculum is delivered consistently well to improve the quality of pupils' writing, which currently "lacks the same level of depth and detail" as their verbal responses.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.4 |
| 2024/25 | 41.5 |
| 2025/26 | 40.7 |
| 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 MK41 8PX, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT