Secondary school

Chiltern Academy

  • Free School
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Luton
  • LU1 3GF
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Feb 2023

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,016 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 31%

Top % in England, by year
2022/23: top 16%16%2023/24: top 31%2024/25: top 31%

Against East of England

Attainment 849.5 · East of England 45.97/10 Above
Grade 5+ English and maths48.1% · East of England 44.9%7/10 Above
EBacc point score4.78 · East of England 4.019/10 Top 20%
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.38 · East of England −0.028/10 Above
Show exam results by year
Attainment 8
2022/23: 54.8 · 207 pupils · East of England 46.22023/24: 49.6 · 238 pupils · East of England 45.62024/25: 49.5 · 231 pupils · East of England 45.8554.849.5
Grade 5+ English and maths
2022/23: 65% · 207 pupils · East of England 43%2023/24: 55% · 238 pupils · East of England 43.9%2024/25: 48.1% · 231 pupils · East of England 44.9%65%48.1%

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in75.0%
204 of 272 who put it first2019 · 73.0%2026 · 75.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st272204
2nd19919
3rd1815

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2023

4 strong areas

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

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,203
Free school meals (past 6 years)37.8%
First language not English41.8%
SEN support10.7%
EHC plan2.5%
Absence (sessions missed)6.8%
Persistently absent pupils18.6%

Girls 46.4%Boys 53.6%

100.2% full · 1,200 places

Parent View

As at 6 Apr 2026 · 131 responses (11% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school87.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school90.8% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved86.2% agree
  • Has your child been bullied at this school?14.5% yes
  • When the bullying took place the school dealt with it quickly and effectively · asked only of the 14.5% who said Yes above52.6% agree
  • Does your child have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities?9.9% yes
  • The school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 9.9% who said Yes above92.3% agree
  • The school communicates well with me about the things I need to know84.7% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 10.7% had no concerns to raise71.8% agree
  • When the school makes decisions it has the child's best interests at heart83.2% agree
  • The school gives my child the right support to enable them to learn well87.8% agree
  • Would you recommend this school to another parent?88.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher15.6
Pupils per adult11.8
  • Classroom teachers 67.2
  • Leadership 10
  • Teaching assistants 18.7
  • Other support 18.2

Teachers 77.2 FTE · Whole workforce 114.2 · 117 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£11,446
Spend per pupil£10,935
Staff spend per pupil£7,863
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£610,000in-year balance

Grants £8,512 · self-generated £2,935 · premises £347 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST (17 academies) · trust reserve £7,777,000 · 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

238 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained89.9%
  • Education86.6%
  • Apprenticeship1.7%
  • Employment1.7%
  • Not sustained5%
  • Unknown5%