Free schools · Bedford

Wixams Academy

11–19Ages
903Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
144595URN

Green Lane, Wixams, Bedford, MK42 6BA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.5per place

0.3 below Bedford median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Bedford

246 applications for 167 places · 11th of 12 in Bedford

Every year since 2018

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.9of 90

Bedford 44.4 England 46.0

8th of 12 in Bedford

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 3 March 2026Published 5 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion			Needs attention
Curriculum and teaching		Expected standard
Achievement		Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour			Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision		Expected standard
Leadership and governance		Expected standard

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

3 March 2026
Report card · 5 Expected standard, 2 Needs attention
5 March 2024
Graded inspection: Requires improvement

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

1.5applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below Bedford median (1.8) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

246 applications · 167 places offered · 154 named it first

2026 1.5; Bedford median median 1.8
2025 1.3; Bedford median median 1.5
2024 1.4; Bedford median median 1.5
2023 1.3; Bedford median median 1.4
2022 2.1; Bedford median median 1.7
2021 2.2; Bedford median median 1.7
2020 2.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 2.7; Bedford median median 1.7
2018 1.3; Bedford median median 1.6

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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	167	246	1.5	154	0.92
Sep 2025	145	188	1.3	132	0.91
Sep 2024	173	239	1.4	155	0.90
Sep 2023	178	233	1.3	155	0.87
Sep 2022	138	283	2.1	195	1.41
Sep 2021	129	287	2.2	194	1.50
Sep 2020	139	297	2.1	184	1.32
Sep 2019	110	299	2.7	230	2.09
Sep 2018	85	107	1.3	85	1.00

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

154 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.98th of 12 in Bedford

Bedford 44.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths44%6th of 12 in Bedford

Bedford 42% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths65%

Bedford 61% England 66%

This school
Bedford median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.23

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	154	43.9	44%	65%	–
2024/25	168	47.5	52%	74%	–
2023/24	171	46.1	50%	70%	+0.23
2022/23	114	47.6	51%	72%	+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

Wixams AcademyThis school
This school

2026

1.5applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
Daubeney Academy
3.2 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 46.1Attainment 8
Marston Vale Middle School
3.6 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2024
Bedford Academy
3.6 km · Bedford

Good2023

2.5applications per place 44.4Attainment 8
Kempston Academy
3.7 km · Bedford

Standards maintained2024

1.8applications per place 38.4Attainment 8
Bedford Free School
5.0 km · Bedford

Standards maintained2025

4.0applications per place 51.0Attainment 8
Wootton Academy
5.0 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.3applications per place 44.8Attainment 8
Biddenham International School and Sports College
5.8 km · Bedford

Standards maintained2024

2.5applications per place 40.3Attainment 8
Castle Newnham School
5.9 km · Bedford

2026

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: Free schools
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 144595 · 822/4005
Trust: Knowledge Schools Trust
Capacity: 1,750 pupils · 903 on roll
Free school meals: 22.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2017
Address: Green Lane, Wixams, Bedford, MK42 6BA
Local authority: Bedford

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