Best secondary schools in Bedford (2026)
Bedford has 6 ranked secondary schools with published results. The top-ranked is Goldington Academy, in the top 15% in England. The average Attainment 8 here in 2025 was 45.7, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 1 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Bedford has no grammar schools.
| Rank | School | Attainment 8 (2023–2025 average) | Attainment 8 2025 | Trend | Grade 5+ Eng & maths | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Top 15% in England |
Goldington Academy Bedford |
54.2 | 54.3 | 64% | Report card | |
2 Top 34% in England |
Bedford Free School Bedford |
50.1 | 46.5 | 37% | Outstanding | |
3 Top 48% in England |
St Thomas More Catholic School Bedford · Roman Catholic |
46.2 | 47.0 | 46% | Good | |
4 Bottom 38% in England |
Mark Rutherford School Bedford |
42.9 | 41.5 | 40% | Report card | |
5 Bottom 27% in England |
Bedford Academy Bedford |
41.7 | 42.8 | 38% | Good | |
6 Bottom 23% in England |
Biddenham International School and Sports College Bedford |
41.3 | 42.1 | 36% | No rating |
Other towns in Bedfordshire
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Bedford?
On exam results over the last three years, Goldington Academy is the top-ranked secondary school in Bedford, in the top 15% of schools in England.
How are the schools ranked?
By published Department for Education exam results averaged over three years: for secondary schools, Attainment 8 plus a quarter of the share getting grade 5+ in English and maths; for primary schools, the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths plus half the share reaching the higher standard. The order uses the three-year average, so a school can rank above one with a higher single-year result. Schools with fewer than 10 pupils taking the tests are not ranked. Exam results are only part of the picture: visit, read the Ofsted report and check admissions rules, as living nearby does not guarantee a place.