Bedford
Bedford Free School
Strong results and, more tellingly, pupils across the ability range leave well ahead of where they started.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 46.5 is close to the national average of around 46.
- 46.5
- Attainment 8
- 57%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2024/2025
- Academic year
Pupils made above-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely above zero, which is strong evidence of added value.
- +1.11
- Progress 8
- [0.82, 1.39]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Admissions and catchment
Council allocation figures
Add a postcode to see where you would sit against past cut-offs.
We have not collected Bedford council’s allocation figures for this school yet. We only show a verdict when we can cite the council’s published figures. Check Bedford’s allocation booklet, or the school’s website.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 109 | 168 | 108 (64%) | 434 |
| September 2025 | 108 | 190 | 98 (52%) | 376 |
| September 2024 | 99 | 189 | 96 (51%) | 358 |
| September 2023 | 96 | 209 | 95 (45%) | 381 |
| September 2022 | 111 | 223 | 107 (48%) | 411 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Bedford’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 98 | 46.5 | — | 57.1% | 88.8% | 4.5 |
| 2023/2024 | 98 | 52.7 | +1.11 | 71.4% | 92.9% | 5.2 |
| 2022/2023 | 95 | 51.0 | +0.99 | 68.0% | 95.0% | 4.9 |
| 2021/2022 | 98 | 54.6 | +0.89 | 78.0% | 92.0% | 5.3 |
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Bedford for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 138228 |
| Local authority | Bedford |
| Region | East of England |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Free schools |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Principal Tom Wood |
| Trust | ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | None |
| Postcode | MK42 9AD |
| Latest pupils | 98 |
| FSM eligible | 28.4% |
Contact and identifiers
Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AD
http://www.bedfordfreeschool.co.uk/View local authority page1234332299| DfE number | 4001 |
| UKPRN | 10038073 |
| Opened | 1 Sept 2012 |
| GIAS updated | 20 Feb 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2024/2025 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 23 Mar 2020 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 15 Jan 2020 |
| Publication date | 23 Mar 2020 |