Sharnbrook Academy

Sharnbrook Academy is an inclusive 11–18 comprehensive academy within Meridian Trust, and this inspection shows considerable improvement since the previous inspection. Pupils are happy and feel safe, behaviour is calm and orderly, and expectations for behaviour and achievement have been raised. Leadership and management are a particular strength, with the school, trust and governing body working closely together and staff benefiting from comprehensive professional development. The curriculum is highly ambitious for all pupils, including those with SEND and sixth-form students. Reading is prioritised, SEND support is well matched to need, and sixth-form provision is exceptionally strong, with students engaging in ambitious independent learning and progressing to destinations of their choice. Personal development is also strong, including careers guidance and opportunities that build confidence and character. The main area for improvement is assessment. In some parts of the curriculum, teachers’ checks on what pupils know and remember are not rigorous enough, so gaps in knowledge are not identified and addressed precisely before pupils move on. The school has also worked to improve attendance after rates of pupil absence were too high in recent years.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with SEND and sixth-form students
• Strong subject knowledge and clear presentation from teachers
• Accurate identification of SEND and tailored support that helps pupils progress and access wider opportunities
• Reading is prioritised, with effective phonics and interventions for weaker readers
• Outstanding sixth-form provision with ambitious, challenging and independent learning
• Strong personal development, including excellent understanding of British values, healthy relationships and respect
• High-quality, unbiased careers guidance that prepares pupils well for next steps
• Calm and orderly behaviour, with pupils working hard and refocusing quickly
• Strong safeguarding and well-being culture where pupils feel safe and happy
• Effective leadership, trust and governance driving considerable improvement
• Comprehensive professional development for staff
• Improving attendance through work with families

Areas for Improvement

• In some curriculum areas, teachers’ checks on pupils’ knowledge are not rigorous enough, so gaps are not identified and addressed precisely
• Pupil absence rates have been too high in recent years, although attendance is improving

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 Sharnbrook Academy attended 92.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 22.7% 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, 6.6% of pupils at Sharnbrook Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). One pupil was 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 Sharnbrook Academy had 20.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.4% 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, 2.3% of pupils at Sharnbrook Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.7% 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 2024–25 Sharnbrook Academy received £7,238 and spent £7,512 for each of its 1,686 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £719,000 (£427 per pupil).

Across all 36 schools of Meridian Trust, income was £7,921 and spending £7,857 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bedford · Bedford local authority: places and applications

Sharnbrook Academy is part of Meridian Trust, which runs 36 schools. The nearest others:

• Harrold Primary Academy Bedford
• Oakley Primary Academy Bedford
• Lincroft Academy Bedford
• The Ferrers School Rushden
• Great Ouse Primary Academy Bedford
• Crosshall Infant School St Neots
• Crosshall Junior School St Neots
• Stratton School Biggleswade
• Sawtry Junior Academy Huntingdon
• Weldon Village Academy Corby

What is Sharnbrook Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sharnbrook Academy is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Sharnbrook Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Sharnbrook Academy was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Sharnbrook Academy have?

Sharnbrook Academy has 1,684 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sharnbrook Academy cover?

Sharnbrook Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Sharnbrook Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 47.7, and 46% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Sharnbrook Academy?

Sharnbrook Academy is at Odell Road, Sharnbrook, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 1JL.