Mark Rutherford School

Secondary
Academy
Ages 11 to 18

Report card: Needs attention to strong standard

Wentworth Drive, Bedford, MK41 8PXOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Mark Rutherford School is a secondary school in Bedford for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 84 schools in Bedford. It ranks 9th of 13 secondary schools in Bedford. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in November 2025.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 11 November 2025, report published 11 January 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion: Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
Achievement: Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard
Leadership and governance: Expected standard
Post-16 provision: Needs attention
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

220 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score41.5

41.5, 4.6 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths39.5%

39.5%, 5.9 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths61.8%

61.8%, 3 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc15%

15%, 25.5 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.52

3.52, 0.57 below the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

78 students

Average point score per A level entry28.29

28.29, 6.71 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C-, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,150 pupils on roll, with places for 1,243

Eligible for free school meals28.3%

28.3%, 1.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language12%

12%, 9.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support16%

16%, 1.2 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.1%

4.1%, 1.9 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Mark Rutherford School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Goldington Academy	1 mile	Report card: Strong standard	Attainment 8: 54.3
St Thomas More Catholic School	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 47.0
Castle Newnham School	2 miles	Report card: Expected standard	67% met the expected standard
KWS School	2 miles	Report card: Expected standard	Attainment 8: 3.4
Bedford School	2 miles	No Ofsted inspection	Attainment 8: 14.6

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: MARK RUTHERFORD SCHOOL TRUST
Age range: 11 to 18
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: Yes
Headteacher: Headteacher Kelli Foster
Phone: 01234290200
Website: markrutherford.beds.sch.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Wentworth Drive, Bedford, MK41 8PX
Local authority: Bedford
URN: 139160

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.