Foundation school · Central Bedfordshire

Sandy Secondary School

11–18Ages
1,259Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
109669URN

Engayne Avenue, Sandy, SG19 1BL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jun 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

0.4 below Central Bedfordshire median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Central Bedfordshire

252 applications for 191 places · 7th of 8 in Central Bedfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.4of 90

Central Bedfordshire 43.2 England 46.0

12th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 June 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.3applications per place, Year 7

0.4 below Central Bedfordshire median (1.8) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

252 applications · 191 places offered · 185 named it first

2026 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2025 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
2024 2.0; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
2023 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
2022 2.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2021 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2020 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2019 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2018 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
2017 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2016 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
2015 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2014 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3

This school
Central Bedfordshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	191	252	1.3	185	0.97
Sep 2025	25	30	1.2	26	1.04
Sep 2024	7	14	2.0	6	0.86
Sep 2023	26	46	1.8	25	0.96
Sep 2022	23	59	2.6	22	0.96
Sep 2021	33	55	1.7	23	0.70
Sep 2020	32	55	1.7	26	0.81
Sep 2019	61	85	1.4	52	0.85
Sep 2018	115	161	1.4	91	0.79
Sep 2017	133	178	1.3	134	1.01
Sep 2016	150	203	1.4	148	0.99
Sep 2015	125	161	1.3	123	0.98
Sep 2014	129	184	1.4	128	0.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

207 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.412th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 43.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%12th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths60%

Central Bedfordshire 61% England 66%

This school
Central Bedfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.24

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	207	41.4	36%	60%	–
2024/25	184	40.8	37%	63%	–
2023/24	196	43.1	40%	63%	−0.24
2022/23	188	42.8	34%	60%	+0.08

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Sandy Secondary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.3applications per place 41.4Attainment 8
Edward Peake CofE VC School
5.3 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.1applications per place
Stratton School
6.3 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 41.5Attainment 8
Ernulf Academy
8.8 km · Cambridgeshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 43.4Attainment 8
Mark Rutherford School
10.2 km · Bedford

2025

2.3applications per place 40.7Attainment 8
Goldington Academy
10.5 km · Bedford

2026

3.1applications per place 52.0Attainment 8
Longsands Academy
10.8 km · Cambridgeshire

Good2024

1.2applications per place 48.2Attainment 8
Castle Newnham School
11.2 km · Bedford

2026
Bedford Academy
11.3 km · Bedford

Good2023

2.5applications per place 44.4Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 109669 · 823/4078
Trust: Pinnacle Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,095 pupils · 1,259 on roll
Free school meals: 21.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 January 1900
Address: Engayne Avenue, Sandy, SG19 1BL
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources