SchoolScoresHoustone School
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS
Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PX
01582 377771 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
154 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Dunstable comparisons use the 5 of its 6 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 | Dunstable | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 9% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 69% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 13% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 68% | 75% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 43% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 64% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 93 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 31% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 43% | 36% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 128 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 8% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 51% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 58 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 3% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 22% | 31% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 14% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55%said yes | 58% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 23%). 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. Dunstable figures pool parents at the Dunstable 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
70 pupils in this year group.
56% — 14 points above the Central Bedfordshire average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 56% | 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. | 46.1 | 43.6 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.2 | 3.8 | 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.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Central Bedfordshire. 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 | 184 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 209 |
| Of those, offered a place | 177 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 322 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.5 · 2026: 1.1
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 | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.4% | 16.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 66% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.6% | 4.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2% | 11.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 34.2% | 7.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 66% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 7.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.0% | 20.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 41.2 | 15.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 6th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 13% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.0% | 5.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.61% | 0.26% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 39% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3 | 17.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.9 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 14% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 7.4% | 13.1%* | 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
- The Chalk Hills Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lealands High School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- King's House Moorlands 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Al Hikmah Boys School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- All Saints Academy Dunstable 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 25% grade 5+ English and maths
- Challney High School for Girls 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Challney High School for Boys 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 54% grade 5+ English and maths
- Priory Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lea Manor High School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 1 expected, 1 needs attention · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Queensbury Academy 2.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Houstone School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Houstone School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 56% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Houstone School?
55% of the 154 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Houstone School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Houstone School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 209 families put Houstone School as their first choice for 184 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 177 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 149107.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.