Best Secondary Schools in Luton 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 13 schools across Luton. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
13
Open secondary schools in Luton
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
11 Good or better
of 13 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Denbigh High School currently leads
Methodology

Luton has 13 open secondary schools. Of the 13 with a published Ofsted inspection, 3 (23%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 85% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Denbigh High 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 Luton 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.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Denbigh High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
2. Challney High School for Boys
Secondary
 Outstanding 69 View school
3. Chiltern Academy
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
4. Challney High School for Girls
Secondary
 Outstanding 64 View school
5. Putteridge High School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
6. Lealands High School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
7. Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
8. Icknield High School
Secondary
 Good 57 View school
9. Stopsley High School
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
10. The Chalk Hills Academy
Secondary
 Good 52 View school
11. Queen Elizabeth School
Secondary
 Good 51 View school
12. Lea Manor High School
Secondary
 Inadequate 32 View school
13. The Stockwood Park Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 30 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 Luton

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

Nearby areas

Schools in Central BedfordshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HertfordshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Milton KeynesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BedfordCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Luton?
There are 13 open secondary schools in Luton (closed schools are excluded). 3 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 Luton?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Luton is Denbigh High School. The full ranked table above lists the top 13 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 Luton?
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 Luton?
Primary and secondary applications in Luton 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 Luton 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.