Best Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 14 schools across Central Bedfordshire. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Central Bedfordshire has 14 open secondary schools. On our composite Schools Near Me score, Cedars Upper School 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 Central Bedfordshire 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.

14
Total schools
0
Outstanding (historic grade)
0%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
52.8%
Avg KS2 SATs
42.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Cedars Upper School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
🥈 Vandyke Upper School
Secondary
 Good 63 View school
🥉 Harlington Upper School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
4. Samuel Whitbread Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
5. Redborne Upper School and Community College
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
6. Manshead Church of England Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
7. Houstone School
Secondary
 — 45 View school
8. Fulbrook School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 41 View school
9. Henlow Church of England Academy
Secondary
 Good 41 View school
10. Sandy Secondary School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 39 View school
11. Queensbury Academy
Secondary
 Good 37 View school
12. Stratton School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 36 View school
13. All Saints Academy Dunstable
Secondary
 Inadequate 33 View school
14. Edward Peake CofE VC School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 27 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 Central Bedfordshire

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

Nearby areas

Schools in LutonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BedfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Milton KeynesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HertfordshireCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Central Bedfordshire

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Central Bedfordshire?
There are 14 open secondary schools in Central Bedfordshire (closed schools are excluded). 0 of the 13 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 Central Bedfordshire?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Central Bedfordshire is Cedars Upper School. The full ranked table above lists the top 14 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 Central Bedfordshire?
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 Central Bedfordshire?
Primary and secondary applications in Central Bedfordshire 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 Central Bedfordshire 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.