Biddenham International School and Sports College

Biddenham International School and Sports College has demonstrated effective actions in maintaining educational standards since its last inspection. Pupils feel a strong sense of community and are engaged in a broad and ambitious curriculum that adapts to their needs. The school provides a supportive environment where pupils develop academically and personally, with many opportunities for extracurricular activities and personal growth. Positive relationships foster a welcoming and inclusive culture that contributes to the overall well-being and safety of students.

Strengths

• Highly inclusive and supportive environment for all pupils
• Engaging and broad curriculum that caters to different needs
• Strong personal development opportunities through clubs and community projects
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
• Excellent literacy support helping pupils improve their reading skills
• Positive behaviour management strategies fostering a respectful atmosphere

Areas for Improvement

• Some teachers do not check pupils' understanding effectively enough during lessons

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Biddenham International School and Sports College attended 91.2% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 27.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 4.0% of pupils at Biddenham International School and Sports College were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 4 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Biddenham International School and Sports College had 13.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 6.8% of pupils at Biddenham International School and Sports College were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Biddenham International School and Sports College received £8,538 and spent £8,857 for each of its 1,423 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £451,000 (-£317 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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What is Biddenham International School and Sports College's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Biddenham International School and Sports College is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Biddenham International School and Sports College last inspected by Ofsted?

Biddenham International School and Sports College was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Biddenham International School and Sports College have?

Biddenham International School and Sports College has 1,422 pupils on roll.

What age range does Biddenham International School and Sports College cover?

Biddenham International School and Sports College for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Biddenham International School and Sports College's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 40.3, and 35% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Biddenham International School and Sports College?

Biddenham International School and Sports College is at Biddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AZ.