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Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

Cedars Upper School

  • 13–18Ages
  • 1,135Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137462URN

Mentmore Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Apr 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
50.1of 90
1st of 16 in Central Bedfordshire
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 19 April 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth form provisionOutstanding

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. 2025 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
  2. 2024 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
  3. 2023 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
  4. 2022 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  5. 2021 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  6. 2020 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  7. 2019 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  8. 2018 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
  9. 2017 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  10. 2016 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
  11. 2015 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
  12. 2014 1.3; 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20252364301.81880.80
Sep 20242874031.42320.81
Sep 20231712741.61330.78
Sep 20221752961.71640.94
Sep 20211812811.61570.87
Sep 20201912981.61890.99
Sep 20192112951.42101.00
Sep 20182643221.22610.99
Sep 20172252751.22200.98
Sep 20162583261.32571.00
Sep 20152403061.32401.00
Sep 20142593241.32570.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

232 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)50.11st of 16 in Central Bedfordshire
Grade 5 or above in English and maths50%2nd of 16 in Central Bedfordshire
Grade 4 or above in English and maths68%
  • This school
  • Central Bedfordshire median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.11
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)23250.150%68%–
2024/2522048.550%78%–
2023/2423843.944%69%−0.11
2022/2326246.442%68%+0.19

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 converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
137462 · 823/4011
Trust
Chiltern Learning Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,350 pupils · 1,135 on roll
Free school meals
15.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 September 2011
Replaced
Cedars Upper School (URN 109650)
Address
Mentmore Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

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