Best Secondary Schools in Bedford

We checked all 19 secondary schools in Bedford and list every one: 13 ranked, then 6 without a rank.

Schools checked
19
Ranked
13
Without a rank
6

Ranks combine 2024/25 GCSE results, worth 60% of each school's score, with the latest Ofsted outcome, worth 40%, as how we rank schools sets out. Rank 1 is the highest score in Bedford. Schools with the same score share a rank. Schools without published results or an Ofsted outcome follow the ranked schools, in name order.

Bedford also has 74 primary schools, ranked on SATs results and Ofsted. Every school in the area is also listed with the other schools in Bedford.

Ranked secondary schools in Bedford

  1. 1

    Goldington Academy

    Academy, 958 pupils, inspected May 2026

    Report card: Strong standard
    Attainment 8
    54.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    64.4%

  2. 2

    Sharnbrook Academy

    Academy, 1,684 pupils, inspected February 2025

    Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
    Attainment 8
    51.6
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    58.9%

  3. 3

    Bedford Free School

    Free school, 536 pupils, inspected January 2020

    Ofsted: Outstanding
    Attainment 8
    46.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    36.7%

  4. 4

    Wixams Academy

    Free school, 903 pupils, inspected March 2026

    Report card: Needs attention to expected standard
    Attainment 8
    47.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    52.4%

  5. 5

    St Thomas More Catholic School

    Academy, 893 pupils, inspected October 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    47.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    45.6%

  6. 6

    Redborne Upper School and Community College

    Academy, 1,657 pupils, inspected July 2024

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    46.6
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    44.8%

  7. 7

    Lincroft Academy

    Academy, 923 pupils, inspected December 2024

    Ofsted judgements: Good
    Attainment 8
    45.0
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    48.1%

  8. 8

    Wootton Academy

    Academy, 822 pupils, inspected November 2024

    Ofsted judgements: Good
    Attainment 8
    44.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    45.3%

  9. 9

    Mark Rutherford School

    Academy, 1,150 pupils, inspected November 2025

    Report card: Needs attention to strong standard
    Attainment 8
    41.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    39.5%

  10. 10

    Bedford Academy

    Academy, 1,480 pupils, inspected March 2023

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    42.8
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    37.8%

  11. 11

    Daubeney Academy

    Academy, 576 pupils, inspected July 2025

    Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding
    Attainment 8
    38.5
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    29.4%

  12. 12

    Biddenham International School and Sports College

    Local authority maintained, 1,422 pupils, inspected March 2019

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    42.1
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    35.9%

  13. 13

    Kempston Academy

    Academy, 773 pupils, inspected September 2018

    Ofsted: Good
    Attainment 8
    40.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    35.5%

Secondary schools in Bedford without a rank

  • Bedford Girls' School

    Independent, 843 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    14.2
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Bedford Greenacre Independent School

    Independent, 775 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    44.9
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    40.9%

  • Bedford Modern School

    Independent, Selective, 1,219 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    31.3
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Bedford School

    Independent, 994 pupils

    No Ofsted inspection
    Attainment 8
    14.6
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%

  • Castle Newnham School

    Academy, 624 pupils, inspected March 2026

    Report card: Expected standard

  • KWS School

    Independent, 18 pupils, inspected June 2026

    Report card: Expected standard
    Attainment 8
    3.4
    Grade 5+ English and maths
    0%