SchoolScoresKempston Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form
Part of CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7EB
01234 290900 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 September 2018.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
148 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bedford comparisons use the 12 of its 20 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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 | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 4th highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 60% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 80% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 71% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 73% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 68 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 90% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 46% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 115 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 70% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 66% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 31 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 55% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 49% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 12 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 67% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%said yes | 74% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. Bedford figures pool parents at the Bedford 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
166 pupils in this year group.
36% — 8 points below the Bedford average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 36% | 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. | 40.3 | 44.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 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.
75 pupils in this year group.
81% — 12 points below the Bedford average, and 11 points below 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. | 81% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 12% | 39% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | – | 13% |
| Further education college | 67% | 47% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 2% | 3% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 81% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25
3 A level students in this year group.
Only 3 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | Not published | C | B- |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 0% | 20% | 26% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 0% | 45% | 53% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | Not published | 30.1 | 35 |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
A level subjects, 2024/25
1 subject, 3 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.
Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Sociology.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After sixth form
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
47 students in this year group.
64% — 13 points below the Bedford average, and 15 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 64% | 77% | 79% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 9% | 7% |
| Work | 21% | 38% | 28% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 67% | 64% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Going on to university
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
36 students in this year group.
39% — 7 points below the Bedford average, and 21 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 39% | 46% | 60% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 0% | 9% | 19% |
Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 56% | 39% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 118 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 105 |
| Of those, offered a place | 105 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 212 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.9
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision and a SEN unit with 40 places for social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 29.9% | 23.0%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.7% | 3.5%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 34% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7% | 9.3%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 75% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 26.6% | 23.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 44% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 8.2%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 45% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 24.4% | 23.9%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 33.9 | 15.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 19th lowest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Lower than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5% | 7.1% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.24% | 0.28% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 33% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.0 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 16th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 20% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.4 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Bedford. Higher than 43% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.1% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Daubeney Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wootton Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Biddenham International School and Sports College 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wixams Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 52% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Free School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020), confirmed 2025 · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Bedford Girls' School 2.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 30% A*/A at A level
- Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C+ average A level grade
- Marston Vale Middle School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Bedford Modern School 2.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 45% A*/A at A level
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Kempston Academy's Ofsted rating?
Kempston Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 September 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Kempston Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 36% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Kempston Academy?
86% of the 148 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Kempston Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Kempston Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 105 families put Kempston Academy as their first choice for 118 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 105 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 142387.
- 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, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2024/25, After sixth form 2024/25, Going on to university 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.