Secondary school

Bedford Academy

  • Academy Sponsor Led
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Bedford
  • MK42 9TR
  • Sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Mar 2023

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 2,153 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 66%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 54%54%2016/17: top 62%2017/18: top 49%49% · 2017/182018/19: top 59%2021/22: top 86%2022/23: top 84%2023/24: top 62%2024/25: top 66%No exams

A-level results

#147 of 273 East of England sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against East of EnglandArrows: East of England rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 842.8 · East of England 45.94/10 Below+20.3 pts
Grade 5+ English and maths37.8% · East of England 44.9%4/10 Below+19.5 pts
EBacc point score3.83 · East of England 4.014/10 Below+26 pts
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.43 · East of England −0.029/10 Top 20%
A level points per entry33.4 · East of England 33.26/10 Middle+48.8 pts
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 49.6 · 175 pupils · East of England 50.52016/17: 44.1 · 215 pupils · East of England 46.22017/18: 46.2 · 195 pupils · East of England 46.32018/19: 44.5 · 210 pupils · East of England 46.32021/22: 40.5 · 180 pupils · East of England 48.82022/23: 38.8 · 205 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 43.4 · 206 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 42.8 · 217 pupils · East of England 45.8549.638.8No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 24% · 215 pupils · East of England 41%2017/18: 37% · 195 pupils · East of England 41%2018/19: 28% · 210 pupils · East of England 40%2021/22: 32% · 180 pupils · East of England 49%2022/23: 29% · 205 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 35.4% · 206 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 37.8% · 217 pupils · East of England 44.9%37.8%24%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 24.32 · 38 pupils · East of England 29.022016/17: 29.39 · 51 pupils · East of England 29.412017/18: 26.46 · 50 pupils · East of England 30.942018/19: 25.33 · 48 pupils · East of England 31.322021/22: 26.99 · 48 pupils · East of England 36.152022/23: 20.86 · 57 pupils · East of England 32.282023/24: 29.37 · 60 pupils · East of England 32.652024/25: 33.4 · 48 pupils · East of England 33.1633.420.86No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in94.7%
270 of 285 who put it first2017 · 100.0%2026 · 94.7%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st285270
2nd26917
3rd1085

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2005–2023

  1. 2005Goodas predecessor
  2. 2008Satisfactoryas predecessor
  3. 2013Good
  4. 2015Good
  5. 2019Remains Good
  6. 2023Good

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Sixth form provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,480
Free school meals (past 6 years)37.8%
First language not English39.9%
SEN support11.6%
EHC plan3.9%
Absence (sessions missed)8.6%
Persistently absent pupils25.6%

Girls 50.1%Boys 49.9%

98.7% full · 1,500 places · 183 in sixth form

Parent View

Not published for this school

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.1
Pupils per adult11.2
  • Classroom teachers 76.3
  • Leadership 10.4
  • Teaching assistants 30.7
  • Other support 56.5

Teachers 86.7 FTE · Whole workforce 173.8 · 199 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£8,055
Spend per pupil£7,375
Staff spend per pupil£5,715
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£936,000in-year balance

Grants £8,351 · self-generated £288 · premises £378 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: HEART ACADEMIES TRUST (4 academies) · trust reserve £2,494,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

206 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained91.3%
  • Education87.4%
  • Apprenticeship1.9%
  • Employment1.9%
  • Not sustained6.8%
  • Unknown1.9%

After sixth form (16–18)

96 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained84.4%
  • Education54.2%
  • Higher education51%
  • Apprenticeship4.2%
  • Employment26%
  • Not sustained12.5%
  • Unknown3.1%