Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

Harlington Upper School

13–18Ages
1,156Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
137941URN

Goswell End Road, Harlington, Dunstable, LU5 6NX · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

46.1of 90

Central Bedfordshire 43.2 England 46.0

4th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 3 October 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
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

2025 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
2024 1.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
2023 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
2022 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2021 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2020 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2019 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2018 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
2017 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2016 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.4
2015 1.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3
2014 1.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.3

More applications per place than the Central Bedfordshire median in 0 of 12 years.

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 2025	202	284	1.4	184	0.91
Sep 2024	233	266	1.1	206	0.88
Sep 2023	212	258	1.2	207	0.98
Sep 2022	227	286	1.3	211	0.93
Sep 2021	251	292	1.2	230	0.92
Sep 2020	240	309	1.3	240	1.00
Sep 2019	219	283	1.3	218	1.00
Sep 2018	240	298	1.2	226	0.94
Sep 2017	241	303	1.3	224	0.93
Sep 2016	256	336	1.3	251	0.98
Sep 2015	258	329	1.3	258	1.00
Sep 2014	283	346	1.2	280	0.99

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

279 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)46.14th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 43.2 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths46%5th of 16 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 40% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths68%

Central Bedfordshire 61% England 66%

This school
Central Bedfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.34

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	279	46.1	46%	68%	–
2024/25	279	47.8	48%	76%	–
2023/24	313	44.4	44%	69%	−0.34
2022/23	305	46.5	49%	69%	−0.24

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

Harlington Upper SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

46.1Attainment 8
Parkfields Middle School
3.8 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2024
Woodland Middle School Academy
4.2 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2023
Arnold Academy
4.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2023
Lealands High School
5.6 km · Luton

Good2023

2.0applications per place 41.7Attainment 8
Redborne Upper School and Community College
5.8 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2024

45.3Attainment 8
Lea Manor High School
5.9 km · Luton

Special measures 2026

1.6applications per place 42.3Attainment 8
Houstone School
6.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 48.7Attainment 8
Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College
6.7 km · Luton

Remains Good2024

1.6applications per place 49.8Attainment 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: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137941 · 823/4083
Trust: The Pyramid Schools Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,360 pupils · 1,156 on roll
Free school meals: 13.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: Resourced provision
Opened: 1 March 2012
Replaced: Harlington Upper School (URN 109673)
Address: Goswell End Road, Harlington, Dunstable, LU5 6NX
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

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