SchoolScoresLeighton Middle School
Community school · Secondary, ages 9 to 13 · Mixed
Church Square, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1EX
01525 374907 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 December 2013.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 1 May 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
276 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Central Bedfordshire comparisons use the 15 of its 27 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 12 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 | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 82% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 80% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 85% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 70% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 75% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 107 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 10th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 54% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 51% | 48% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 221 parents who had raised a concern Joint 5th highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 57% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 67% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 15 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 73% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 76% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Central Bedfordshire figures pool parents at the Central Bedfordshire 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
147 pupils in this year group.
78% — 28 points above the Central Bedfordshire average, and 16 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 78% | 50% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 70% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 84% | 61% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 89% | 66% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 12% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.2% | 16.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 72% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 4.7%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.2% | 11.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 47% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0% | 7.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.9% | 7.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 96% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.7% | 20.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 94% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.8 | 15.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 96% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 0.8% | 5.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.17% | 0.26% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 63% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.4 | 17.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.7 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 36% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 11.1% | 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
- Linslade School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022
- Cedars Upper School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Brooklands Middle School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Gilbert Inglefield Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026, before conversion: safeguarding not met; 6 urgent improvement
- Vandyke Upper School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Cottesloe School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Leighton Middle School's Ofsted rating?
Leighton Middle School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 December 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 1 May 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Would parents recommend Leighton Middle School?
88% of the 276 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Leighton Middle School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 109689.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.