The Chalk Hills Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS

Leagrave High St, Luton, LU4 0NE

01582 884100 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 24 September 2014; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths45%England 45% · 2024/25
8th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 53% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,644Room for 1,450 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,337 in 2019, 1,485 in 2021, 1,543 in 2022, 1,575 in 2023, 1,619 in 2024, 1,614 in 2025, 1,644 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1308 for 290 places, September 2026
5th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 70% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 September 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formRequires improvement

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 1 November 2023: 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

103 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Luton comparisons use the 8 of its 14 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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.

StatementThis schoolLutonEngland
My child is happy at this school
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 86% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton.
Higher than 52% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87% 87% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton.
Higher than 61% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 85% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton.
Higher than 50% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 53% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 75 parents who had raised a concern
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton.
Higher than 45% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
69% 74% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton.
Higher than 50% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80%said yes 85% 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. 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

294 pupils in this year group.

45% — 3 points above the Luton average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLutonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 45% 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. 45.7 45 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.0 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 47%This school 2023/24: 44%This school 2024/25: 45% This school England 45% 2022/23 47% 2023/24 44% 2024/25 45%

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.

241 pupils in this year group.

88% — 3 points below the Luton average, and 4 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 16%47%22%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLutonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 88% 91% 92%
School sixth form 16% 13% 34%
Sixth form college 47% 47% 13%
Further education college 22% 27% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 1% 3%
Work 1% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%88%

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

33 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolLutonEngland
Average A level grade C C B-
A level exams graded A* or A 14% 19% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 39% 47% 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. 29.8 30.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 25.4This school 2023/24: 29.8This school 2024/25: 29.8 This school England 35 2022/23 25.4 2023/24 29.8 2024/25 29.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

13 subjects, 91 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Chemistry 19 5% 21% 30%
Biology 17 6% 12% 27%
Mathematics 15 0% 7% 40%
Psychology 10 10% 30% 19%
Law 7 0% 0% 17%
Physics 7 0% 0% 31%
Business Studies:Single 6 0% 0% 16%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: History, Art and Design (Fine Art), Religious Studies, Media/Film/Tv Studies, Polish, Urdu.

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.

74 students in this year group.

85% — 5 points above the Luton average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLutonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 85% 80% 79%
Apprenticeship 4% 6% 7%
Work 27% 19% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
87%85%

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.

60 students in this year group.

68% — 2 points below the Luton average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLutonEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 68% 70% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 7% 11% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
72%68%

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 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 one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered290
Families who put it first308
Of those, offered a place277 (90%)
Families who listed it at all569

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Luton

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLutonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
35.1% 31.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
11th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 24% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.9% 2.6%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 29% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.1% 12.4%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
8th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
41.2% 45.7%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
11th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Lower than 44% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.7% 7.4%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
25.1% 21.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Lower than 59% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.3 14.0 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Lower than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 7.5% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.31% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
5th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 67% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.6 16.6 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 96% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.4 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
11th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Luton.
Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.2% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is The Chalk Hills Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Chalk Hills Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 September 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 1 November 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did The Chalk Hills Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 45% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend The Chalk Hills Academy?

80% of the 103 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend The Chalk Hills Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is The Chalk Hills Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 308 families put The Chalk Hills Academy as their first choice for 290 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 277 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.