SchoolScoresGoldington Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of GOLDINGTON ACADEMY TRUST
Haylands Way, Bedford, MK41 9BX
01234 261516 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 12 May 2026 , published 23 June 2026.
In short: 6 strong, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
177 pupils in this year group.
64% — 21 points above the Bedford average, and 19 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 64% | 44% | 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. | 54.3 | 44.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 5.0 | 3.9 | 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.
154 pupils in this year group.
95% — 2 points above the Bedford average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 95% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 32% | 39% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 62% | 47% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 95% |
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 Bedford. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 182 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 272 |
| Of those, offered a place | 182 (67%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 556 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.7 · 2025: 1.7 · 2026: 1.5
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 | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 39% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.9% | 23.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.3% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5% | 9.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 64% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 18.3% | 23.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 85% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.1% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 80% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 16.7% | 23.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 3.8 | 15.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 87% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 2.4% | 7.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.21% | 0.28% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 86% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.8 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 5th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 76% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 12th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 21% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 12.2%* | 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
- Castle Newnham School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected
- KWS School 0.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected
- Bedford School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 51% A*/A at A level
- Bedford Girls' School 1.1 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 30% A*/A at A level
- Mark Rutherford School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 2 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Free School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Thomas More Catholic School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Modern School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 45% A*/A at A level
- Bedford Greenacre Independent School 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 17% A*/A at A level
- Bedford Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Goldington Academy's Ofsted rating?
Goldington Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 12 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.
How did Goldington Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 64% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 19 points above the England average of 45%.
Is Goldington Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 272 families put Goldington Academy as their first choice for 182 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 182 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 136552.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.