St Thomas More Catholic School
Bedford, MK41 7UL · Bedford · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th 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 910 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.0/10 among them, against 4.5/10 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 | 36.6 · 29 | 30% | 0.86 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.31 · 73 | 25% | 1.83 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.0 · 24 | 10% | 0.24 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Thomas More Catholic School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 45.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 47.0, compared with the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.31 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in November 2023.
Getting in
The published school roll is 893 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,040. 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 147 places currently spare, how does the school manage class sizes for new intakes? How does the Progress 8 score of +0.31 translate into support for individual students? What does the daily timetable look like for core subjects?
What Ofsted said about St Thomas More Catholic School
Overview
St Thomas More Catholic School is described as a “close-knit community” with a strong “family” ethos where pupils “appreciate and embody” Catholic values. The report states that pupils “achieve well” and are provided with the knowledge and skills to lead “happy, successful lives,” supported by high expectations for all, including those with special educational needs.
Strengths
- The school has planned an “ambitious curriculum” where teachers “systematically revisit” key concepts to help pupils remember them.
- Pupils are “polite and courteous,” behave well, and say they “feel safe” within the school environment.
- There are extensive opportunities for pupils to develop talents, including clubs, charity events, and peer mentoring for younger students.
- The school supports pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “well,” working closely with parents and providing targeted training for staff.
- Attendance has improved significantly since the pandemic and is now “above average,” with persistent absence below the national average.
Areas to improve
- Leaders’ high expectations for behaviour are “not applied consistently by staff across the school and in the sixth form,” resulting in lost learning time.
- Curriculum plans are “more rigorous in some subject areas than others,” meaning pupils do not experience a “consistently high quality of education across the curriculum.”
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 | 44.6 |
| 2024/25 | 47.0 |
| 2025/26 | 41.0 |
| 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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