Best Secondary Schools in Bedford 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 12 schools across Bedford. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Bedford has 12 open secondary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, Goldington Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Bedford follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

12
Total schools
0
Outstanding (historic grade)
0%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
56.7%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.9
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Goldington Academy
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
🥈 St Thomas More Catholic School
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
🥉 Bedford Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
4. Castle Newnham School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
5. Biddenham International School and Sports College
Secondary
 Good 55 View school
6. Kempston Academy
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
7. Sharnbrook Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 52 View school
8. Wixams Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 51 View school
9. Mark Rutherford School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 44 View school
10. Lincroft Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 44 View school
11. Wootton Upper School
Secondary
 Good 43 View school
12. Daubeney Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 36 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Bedford

Best primary schools in BedfordTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in BedfordTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in BedfordPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in BedfordReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Central BedfordshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Milton KeynesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LutonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in North NorthamptonshireCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Bedford

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in Bedford

Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Bedford?
There are 12 open secondary schools in Bedford (closed schools are excluded). 0 of the 12 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Bedford?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Bedford is Goldington Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 12 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Bedford?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Bedford?
Primary and secondary applications in Bedford are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Bedford council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.