Bedford Free School
| Type | Secondary / Free schools |
| Age Range | 11-16 |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Address | Cauldwell Street Bedford Bedfordshire MK42 9AD |
| Phone | 01234332299 |
| Reference Number | 138228 |
Bedford Free School has achieved an overall rating of outstanding in its latest inspection, marking a significant improvement since its last evaluation which was rated good. The school demonstrates a relentless commitment to excellence, with high expectations for both staff and students contributing to an environment where pupils feel safe, confident, and eager to learn. The curriculum is well-structured and provides ample opportunities for personal development, with staff offering tailored support to help students achieve their goals. The school community works collaboratively, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and support among pupils.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 525 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 51.43%
Girls: 48.57% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 28.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 64% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 22.5 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 49 | 57 | 106 |
| 8 | 52 | 54 | 106 |
| 9 | 56 | 49 | 105 |
| 10 | 58 | 49 | 107 |
| 11 | 55 | 46 | 101 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Indian | 16.4% |
| White, Other | 15.8% |
| White, British | 13.9% |
| African | 11.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 8.6% |
| Pakistani | 7.8% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 3% |
| Asian, Other | 1.9% |
| White & Asian | 1.5% |
| Caribbean | 1.5% |
| Unclassified | 1.1% |
| White & Black (African) | 1% |
| Chinese | 0.2% |
| Irish | 0.2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| > Quality of education | Outstanding |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Outstanding |
| > Personal Development | Outstanding |
| > Leadership & Management | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 15 Jan 2020 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2025 | School inspection |
| 15 Jan 2020 | School inspection: |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Full inspection: |
| 26 Feb 2014 | Full inspection: |
Strengths
- High expectations for staff and pupils
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and focus
- Strong curriculum for personal development
- Well-structured curriculum that supports effective learning
- Rapid intervention for students falling behind
- Commitment to staff development and effective teaching practices
- Governance that challenges and supports school leadership
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent implementation of practical elements in some subjects
- Need for better consideration of pupils' prior knowledge in some areas
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 46.5 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 36.7% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 57.1% |
Attainment 8 Score
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Sample
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 135 | 9 |
| Third Preference | 51 | 1 |
| From another Local Authority | 4 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock2016 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 0 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 0 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 1 | 1 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
Priory Primary School
Greyfriars, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1JD |
0.51 miles |
|
Peter Pan Nursery School
Edward Road, Bedford, MK42 9DR |
0.52 miles |
|
Cauldwell School
Edward Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9DR |
0.54 miles |
|
Cherry Trees Nursery School
Hawkins Road, Bedford, MK42 9LS |
0.58 miles |
|
Shackleton Primary School
Pearcey Road, Shackleton Primary School, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9LZ |
0.6 miles |
|
Polam School
45 Lansdowne Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 2BU |
0.71 miles |
|
Castle Newnham School
Goldington Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3EP |
0.75 miles |
|
Livingstone Primary School
Clapham Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7LG |
0.86 miles |
|
King's Oak Primary School
Oak Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0HH |
0.96 miles |
|
Queen's Park Academy
Chestnut Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4HA |
1.01 miles |
|
Westfield Primary School
Chester Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4HW |
1.12 miles |
|
Edith Cavell Primary School
Manton Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7NH |
1.15 miles |
|
St John Rigby Catholic Primary School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9DQ |
1.19 miles |
|
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
Biddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AT |
1.22 miles |
|
Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School
Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7QZ |
1.25 miles |
|
Camestone School
Jowitt Avenue, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8NW |
1.27 miles |
|
Great Ouse Primary Academy
Seaforth Gardens, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4TJ |
1.3 miles |
|
Elstow School
Abbey Fields, Elstow, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9GP |
1.37 miles |
|
Hazeldene School
Stancliffe Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9AT |
1.5 miles |
|
The Hills Academy
Stancliffe Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9AT |
1.52 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Bedford College
Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AH |
0.08 miles |
|
Bedford Girls' School
Cardington Road, Bedford, MK42 0BX |
0.24 miles |
|
Bedford School
De Parys Avenue, Bedford, MK40 2TU |
0.64 miles |
|
St John's School
Austin Canons, Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AA |
0.79 miles |
|
Bedford Academy
Mile Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9TR |
1.12 miles |
|
Castle Newnham School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9DT |
1.13 miles |
|
Bedford Modern School
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7NT |
1.24 miles |
|
Goldington Academy
Haylands Way, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9BX |
1.27 miles |
|
KWS School
51 Brunel Road, Bedford, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9TJ |
1.29 miles |
|
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Biddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AZ |
1.31 miles |
|
Grange Academy
Halsey Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AU |
1.33 miles |
|
Daubeney Academy
Orchard Street, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7PS |
1.5 miles |
|
Bedford Greenacre Independent School
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7FZ |
1.61 miles |
|
St Thomas More Catholic School
Tyne Crescent, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7UL |
2.03 miles |
|
Mark Rutherford School
Wentworth Drive, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 8PX |
2.3 miles |
|
Kempston Academy
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB |
2.38 miles |
|
Ridgeway School
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB |
2.45 miles |
|
Wixams Academy
Green Lane, Wixams, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 6BA |
3.11 miles |
|
Lincroft Academy
Station Road, Oakley, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 7RE |
3.4 miles |
|
Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School
Renhold Road, Wilden, Bedford, MK44 2PT |
3.78 miles |