Best secondary schools in Bedfordshire (2026)
Bedfordshire has 39 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 44.9, against 46.1 for England. 0 are in England's top 10%, and 4 are rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Bedfordshire 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 21% in England |
Denbigh High School Luton |
53.4 | 52.6 | 56% | Outstanding | |
3 Top 25% in England |
Chiltern Academy Luton |
51.3 | 49.5 | 48% | Good | |
4 Top 29% in England |
Challney High School for Girls Luton · Girls |
50.7 | 50.1 | 48% | Outstanding | |
5 Top 29% in England |
Icknield High School Luton |
49.3 | 49.4 | 58% | Good | |
6 Top 30% in England |
Sharnbrook Academy Sharnbrook |
50.0 | 51.6 | 59% | Not judged | |
7 Top 34% in England |
Bedford Free School Bedford |
50.1 | 46.5 | 37% | Outstanding | |
8 Top 36% in England |
Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College Luton · Roman Catholic |
49.3 | 50.0 | 46% | No rating | |
9 Top 36% in England |
Challney High School for Boys Luton · Boys |
47.7 | 47.7 | 54% | Outstanding | |
10 Top 37% in England |
Lincroft Academy Oakley (Bedford) |
48.0 | 45.0 | 48% | Not judged | |
11 Top 38% in England |
Putteridge High School Luton |
48.3 | 49.2 | 46% | No rating | |
12 Top 41% in England |
Wixams Academy Wixams |
47.1 | 47.5 | 52% | Report card | |
13 Top 43% in England |
Samuel Whitbread Academy Shefford |
46.9 | 46.7 | 48% | No rating | |
14 Top 44% in England |
Vandyke Upper School Central Bedfordshire |
47.3 | 48.2 | 48% | No rating | |
15 Top 46% in England |
Redborne Upper School and Community College Ampthill |
46.5 | 46.6 | 45% | Good | |
16 Top 46% in England |
Harlington Upper School Harlington |
46.2 | 47.8 | 48% | Good | |
17 Top 48% in England |
St Thomas More Catholic School Bedford · Roman Catholic |
46.2 | 47.0 | 46% | Good | |
18 Top 48% in England |
Priory Academy Dunstable |
45.7 | 46.2 | 50% | No rating | |
19 Top 48% in England |
Cedars Upper School Leighton Buzzard |
46.3 | 48.5 | 50% | Good | |
20 Bottom 50% in England |
The Chalk Hills Academy Luton |
45.3 | 45.7 | 45% | No rating | |
21 Bottom 43% in England |
Wootton Academy Wootton (Bedford) |
44.1 | 44.3 | 45% | Not judged | |
22 Bottom 38% in England |
Mark Rutherford School Bedford |
42.9 | 41.5 | 40% | Report card | |
23 Bottom 36% in England |
Henlow Church of England Academy Henlow · Church of England |
43.1 | 42.7 | 36% | Not judged | |
24 Bottom 35% in England |
Lealands High School Luton |
43.1 | 44.3 | 34% | Good | |
25 Bottom 34% in England |
Fulbrook School Aspley Guise |
42.9 | 42.9 | 37% | Report card | |
26 Bottom 32% in England |
Sandy Secondary School Sandy |
42.2 | 40.8 | 37% | Not judged | |
27 Bottom 30% in England |
Queen Elizabeth School Luton |
41.7 | 39.9 | 34% | Good | |
28 Bottom 29% in England |
Stopsley High School Luton |
40.9 | 42.3 | 38% | Good | |
29 Bottom 27% in England |
Queensbury Academy Dunstable |
41.3 | 40.0 | 34% | Not judged | |
30 Bottom 27% in England |
Bedford Academy Bedford |
41.7 | 42.8 | 38% | Good | |
31 Bottom 26% in England |
Manshead Church of England Academy Dunstable · Church of England |
41.1 | 43.0 | 37% | Report card | |
32 Bottom 25% in England |
Houstone School Houghton Regis |
39.4 | 46.1 | 56% | Not judged | |
33 Bottom 23% in England |
Biddenham International School and Sports College Bedford |
41.3 | 42.1 | 36% | No rating | |
34 Bottom 15% in England |
Stratton School Biggleswade |
38.9 | 38.9 | 30% | Not judged | |
35 Bottom 12% in England |
Kempston Academy Kempston |
37.7 | 40.3 | 36% | No rating | |
36 Bottom 12% in England |
Daubeney Academy Kempston |
36.7 | 38.5 | 29% | Not judged | |
37 Bottom 8% in England |
Lea Manor High School Luton |
35.3 | 36.3 | 29% | Report card | |
38 Bottom 8% in England |
The Stockwood Park Academy Luton |
36.4 | 35.9 | 21% | Not judged | |
39 Bottom 7% in England |
All Saints Academy Dunstable Dunstable · Church of England |
35.3 | 36.9 | 25% | Not judged |
Best secondary school in each town
Also see
Questions
What is the best secondary school in Bedfordshire?
On exam results over the last three years, Goldington Academy is the top-ranked secondary school in Bedfordshire, 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.