GCSE 2025/26
#852 of 3,312
Better than 74% of schools in England
Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.
Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 15 Jan 2020
Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 138228.
GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average. | 51, better than England, better than Bedford | 44.1 | 46.2 |
| Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass. | 68%, better than England, better than Bedford | 62% | 64.8% |
| Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass. | 58.3%, better than England, better than Bedford | 41.7% | 46.3% |
| Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade. | 15.5%, similar to England, better than Bedford | 9% | 14.2% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 64.1%, better than England, better than Bedford | 56.6% | 60.2% |
| Pupils at the end of key stage 4 | 103 | - | - |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Pupils at the January school census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Total pupils | 536 |
| Girls | 260 |
| Boys | 276 |
| Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals. | 29.5% |
| First language not English | 66.4% |
| School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery. | 500 |
| Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken. | 0% |
| SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school. | 25 |
| EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs. | 19 |
| Average class size | 24.5 |
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.
Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.
Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Pupils per teacher | 14.5 |
| Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants. | 11.5 |
| Teachers (FTE) | 36.9 |
| Teaching assistants (FTE) | 4.06 |
| Support staff (FTE) | 17.02 |
| Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/25 | 38.9 |
| Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/25 | 36.9 |
| Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/25 | 0 |
| Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/25 | 2 |
Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.
Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day. | 109 |
| Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed. | 434 |
| First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice. | 168 |
| First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 108 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 7) | 11 |
| Offers made (Year 9)2016/17Places offered on national offer day. | 1 |
| Applications (Year 9)2016/17Includes every preference parents listed. | 1 |
| First preference applications (Year 9)2016/17Families who put this school as their first choice. | 1 |
| First preference offers (Year 9)2016/17First-choice applicants who were offered a place. | 1 |
| Applications from another local authority (Year 9)2016/17 | 1 |
Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.
Share of possible sessions missed.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall absence | 5.9%, better than England, better than Bedford | 7.8% | 8% |
| Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions. | 14.7%, better than England, better than Bedford | 22.3% | 21.6% |
| Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions. | 2.8%, better than England, similar to Bedford | 3.2% | 3.6% |
Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.
Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Suspension rate | 19.2% |
| Pupils with one or more suspensions | 7.4% |
| Permanent exclusion rate | 0.6% |
| Permanent exclusions | 3 |
Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.
Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.
| Measure | This school |
|---|---|
| Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms. | 92.9% |
| Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education. | 90.8% |
| Further education | 55.1% |
| School sixth form | 35.7% |
| Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms. | 3.1% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% |
| Employment | 1% |
| Sixth form college | 0% |
Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.
Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.
| Distance | Phase | Name | Type | Rating | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2 mi | Not applicable | Bedford Girls' School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | Priory Primary School | Foundation school | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 5 Nov 2024. | |
| 0.5 mi | Nursery | Peter Pan Nursery School | Local authority nursery school | Outstanding Ofsted rating. Inspected 14 Feb 2013. | |
| 0.5 mi | Primary | Cauldwell School | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 11 Nov 2025. | |
| 0.6 mi | Nursery | Cherry Trees Nursery School | Local authority nursery school | Outstanding Ofsted rating. Inspected 4 Jul 2019. | |
| 0.6 mi | Primary | Shackleton Primary School | Academy converter | Requires improvement Area360 rating. Inspected 27 Jan 2026. | |
| 0.6 mi | Not applicable | Bedford School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 0.7 mi | Not applicable | Polam School | Other independent school | Unrated Unrated. | |
| 0.8 mi | All-through | Castle Newnham School | Academy converter | Good Area360 rating. Inspected 17 Mar 2026. | |
| 0.9 mi | Primary | Livingstone Primary School | Foundation school | Good Ofsted rating. Inspected 8 Mar 2023. |
Bedford Free School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 15 Jan 2020.
Bedford Free School ranks 852 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 74% of schools).
In 2025/26, 58.3% of pupils at Bedford Free School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 51 (England 46.2).
For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Bedford Free School made 109 offers from 434 applications (4 per offer), and 108 of 168 first-preference applicants got a place. For Year 9 entry in 2016/17, it made 1 offers from 1 applications (1 per offer), and 1 of 1 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.
Bedford Free School has 536 pupils aged 11 to 16.
Bedford Free School had 500 school places in 2024/25.
No, Bedford Free School teaches pupils up to age 16.
At Bedford Free School, the average class had 24.5 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 14.5 pupils per teacher.
In 2025/26, pupils at Bedford Free School missed 5.9% of sessions (England 8%), and 14.7% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).
Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.