SchoolScoresChiltern Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST
Gipsy Lane, Luton, LU1 3GF
01582 310644 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 February 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
131 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Luton comparisons use the 3 of its 14 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 11 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 74% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 67% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 74% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 77% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 75% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 63% | 78% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 65% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 42% | 43% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 117 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 54% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 56% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 96% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 51% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 68% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89%said yes | 71% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 11%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Luton figures pool parents at the Luton schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
231 pupils in this year group.
48% — 6 points above the Luton average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 48% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 49.5 | 45 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.8 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
207 pupils in this year group.
92% — about the same as the Luton average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 92% | 91% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 20% | 13% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 45% | 47% | 13% |
| Further education college | 25% | 27% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | Not published | 1% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 1% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Luton. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 228 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 272 |
| Of those, offered a place | 204 (75%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 652 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.6 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.2
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 37.8% | 31.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 6th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 2.6%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.7% | 12.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 41.8% | 45.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Lower than 77% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.8% | 7.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Lower than 73% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 18.6% | 21.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Lower than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7 | 14.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Lower than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 7.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils | 0.59% | 0.31% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 10th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 26% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.6 | 16.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 7th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 11.6 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 9th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton. Higher than 48% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.8% | 14.6%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Bury Park Educational Institute (Al - Hikmah Secondary School) 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 5% A*/A at A level
- Queen Elizabeth School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Stockwood Park Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 21% grade 5+ English and maths
- Denbigh High School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
- Stopsley High School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Jamiatul Uloom Al - Islamia 2.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Putteridge High School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2024 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Icknield High School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Chiltern Academy's Ofsted rating?
Chiltern Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2023.
How did Chiltern Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 3 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Chiltern Academy?
89% of the 131 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Chiltern Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Chiltern Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 272 families put Chiltern Academy as their first choice for 228 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 204 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 145872.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.