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Academy sponsor led · Bedford

Bedford Academy

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,480Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 136085URN

Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.5per place
0.7 above Bedford median (1.8)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bedford

722 applications for 293 places · 4th of 12 in Bedford
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
44.4of 90
7th of 12 in Bedford
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 March 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth form provisionGood

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
2.5applications per place, Year 7
0.7 above Bedford median (1.8) 0.2 above England median (2.2)

722 applications · 293 places offered · 285 named it first

  1. 2026 2.5; Bedford median median 1.8
  2. 2025 2.3; Bedford median median 1.5
  3. 2024 2.5; Bedford median median 1.5
  4. 2023 2.5; Bedford median median 1.4
  5. 2022 2.6; Bedford median median 1.7
  6. 2021 2.6; Bedford median median 1.7
  7. 2020 2.7; Bedford median median 1.9
  8. 2019 2.5; Bedford median median 1.7
  9. 2018 2.1; Bedford median median 1.6
  10. 2017 1.8; Bedford median median 1.6
  11. 2014 1.9; Bedford median median 1.5
More applications per place than the Bedford median in 11 of 11 years.
  • This school
  • Bedford 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262937222.52850.97
Sep 20252906542.32770.96
Sep 20242616452.52250.86
Sep 20232636592.52400.91
Sep 20222466412.61900.77
Sep 20212316012.61810.78
Sep 20202216052.72000.90
Sep 20192225502.51610.73
Sep 20181914022.11880.98
Sep 20171933481.81900.98
Sep 20142104071.92070.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

224 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)44.47th of 12 in Bedford
Grade 5 or above in English and maths36%9th of 12 in Bedford
Grade 4 or above in English and maths61%
  • This school
  • Bedford median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.43
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)22444.436%61%–
2024/2521742.838%58%–
2023/2420643.435%55%+0.43
2022/2320538.829%50%0.00

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

  • 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
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
136085 · 822/6905
Trust
Heart Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,500 pupils · 1,480 on roll
Free school meals
40.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2010
Replaced
John Bunyan School (URN 109672)
Address
Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TR
Local authority
Bedford

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