Daubeney Academy

Daubeney Academy has improved substantially since its previous inspection. The quality of education is now good, while behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management are outstanding. Inspectors found an inclusive, aspirational school where pupils are well supported and behave exceptionally well. This was a graded inspection under the current framework, so no overall effectiveness grade was given. Pupils benefit from strong teaching and a curriculum that is consistently well delivered, particularly in English, mathematics and science. Staff know pupils’ needs well, and tailored support for pupils with SEND and those who speak English as an additional language is effective. Reading is a priority, and the personal development programme, careers guidance and enrichment offer are strong. Leaders have driven significant improvement with support from the Chiltern Learning Trust, and staff, parents and pupils are positive about the school. The main area for improvement is that in some subjects staff are still in the early stages of training to teach, assess and adapt the curriculum as intended, so pupils do not yet receive the same precise teaching and support they get in core and other stronger subjects. Leaders should continue supporting teachers to develop these approaches so pupils make the best possible progress.

Strengths

• Inclusive culture that respects and celebrates diversity
• High expectations and a strong culture of aspiration
• Consistently well-taught curriculum, especially in English, mathematics and science
• Strong subject expertise and clear explanations in lessons
• Effective tailored support for pupils with SEND
• Intensive support for pupils who speak English as an additional language
• Clear priority on reading and support for weakest readers
• Exemplary pupil behaviour and mutual respect
• Well-rounded personal development programme
• Excellent careers guidance and a rich enrichment offer
• Outstanding leadership with effective trust support
• Positive relationships with staff, parents and pupils
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

Areas for Improvement

• In some subjects, staff are in the early stages of training to teach, assess and adapt the curriculum as intended
• Pupils do not yet receive the same precise teaching and support in these subjects as in core and other stronger subjects
• Leaders need to continue supporting teachers to develop teaching and assessment approaches so pupils make the best possible progress

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 Daubeney Academy attended 93.2% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 18.3% 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, 8.7% of pupils at Daubeney Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 3 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 Daubeney Academy had 18.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.7% 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, 17.0% of pupils at Daubeney Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.1% 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 Daubeney Academy received £8,340 and spent £8,311 for each of its 563 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £332,000 (£591 per pupil).

Across all 19 schools of Chiltern Learning Trust, income was £7,910 and spending £7,771 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

Daubeney Academy is part of Chiltern Learning Trust, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Springfield Primary School Bedford
• Kempston Academy Bedford
• Wootton Primary School Bedford
• Marston Vale Middle School Bedford
• Aspley Guise Village School Aspley Guise
• Lea Manor High School Luton
• Gilbert Inglefield Academy Leighton Buzzard
• Challney High School for Girls Luton
• Putteridge High School Luton
• Challney High School for Boys Luton

What is Daubeney Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Daubeney Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2025.

When was Daubeney Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Daubeney Academy was last inspected in September 2025.

How many pupils does Daubeney Academy have?

Daubeney Academy has 576 pupils on roll.

What age range does Daubeney Academy cover?

Daubeney Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Daubeney Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 46.1, and 52% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Daubeney Academy?

Daubeney Academy is at Orchard Street, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7PS.