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Bedford Free School - Ofsted Report, Parent Reviews (2025)
Bedford Free School
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Bedford Free School
- Secondary
- Bedford MK42 9AD
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Ofsted report
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Outstanding
| The quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Previous inspection grade | Good |
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This insight was generated by AI, based on latest Ofsted report.
Academic Progress: Pupils remember a great deal of what they have learned
Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils are very well behaved and supportive of each other
Qualifications and Training: Leaders provide high-quality training for all colleagues
Current Educational Practices: Teachers enthusiastically seek out new approaches to teaching
Strengths and Challenges: In some subjects, practical elements are not as strong as the theoretical
Opportunities for Involvement: Governors ensure leaders work in partnership with parents
Communication: Staff provide expert advice on potential next steps
Parent Satisfaction: Parents' responses are considered by inspectors
Handling Conflicts and Concerns: Pastoral staff help with bullying or social challenges
Actions for Quality Improvement: Leaders pay attention to each member of staff's learning needs
Managing Bullying and Safety: Bullying is rare, and pastoral support is highly skilled
Promoting Welfare and Safety: Staff act quickly and appropriately when concerns arise
Extracurricular Offerings: Wide range of activities that enrich learning
Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars: Pupils pursue their talents and interests with enthusiasm
Career Counselling Services: Staff provide expert advice about next steps
Preparation for Sixth Form: All Year 11 pupils secured employment, education or training
Managing and Supporting SEND: Leaders ensure teaching meets the needs of all pupils
Historical Ofsted reports
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About Us
Bedford Free School is a top rated, Secondary, Co-Ed school located in Bedfordshire, East of England.
It has 529 students from age 11-16 yr with a student-teacher ratio of 13 : 1.
At this school, 48% of pupils achieved grade 5 or more at GCSE.
This school rated Outstanding by recent Ofsted inspection.
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Bedford Free School
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From the Bedford Free School
Bedford Free School is a public school founded in 2012 by educators, families, and other community members. The founders were adamant about changing the educational scene for the better. We still demonstrate that tenacity in all we do. Like all public institutions, Bedford Free School accepts students of all income and academic ability. We submit our students for GCSEs, have Ofsted supervise and inspect us, and league tables are published with our exam results. Therefore, much like all other schools, BFS' performance is closely scrutinised to provide parents peace of mind that their kids are receiving an excellent education. But there are certain significant variations that, in our opinion, set Bedford Free School apart. Concerned parents and educators from the neighbourhood began a campaign in 2012 to change something about a Bedford and Kempston school. Smaller year groups, longer school days that fit well with contemporary family life, and a genuine dedication to getting learning right are all things parents expressed they desired for their children's education. Local residents helped establish and create Bedford Free School. Mark Lehain, the first principal (2012鈥�2017), is a local. He sends his eldest child to BFS, and the current Executive Principal, Stuart Lock, agrees with him that if it isn't good enough for his own child, it isn't good enough.
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Compare with similar schools
| Phase of Education | Secondary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Free Schools | Free Schools |
| 夜来香研究所 grade |
A-
|
A-
|
| Ofset report | Outstanding | Outstanding |
| Age range | 11-16 | 11-18 |
| Gender | Co-Ed | Co-Ed |
|---|---|---|
| Student teacher ratio | 13.7 | 8.3 |
| Proficient Math | - | - |
| Proficient Read | - | - |
| Grade 5 or above GCSE | 48% | 0% |
| Grade 5 or above A Level | - | - |
| Day Fees | - | - |
Secondary Exam Result
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.99 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 51.0 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 48% | 26% | 30.03% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 72% | 40.38% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 95% | 21.29% | 25.06% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 34% | 8.24% | 10.91% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 53% | 12.48% | 15.51% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.94 | 2.56 | 2.83 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 92% | 87.29% | 90.53% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 98 | 133 | 144 |
| Pupils staying in education | 88% | 82.36% | 84.16% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 59% | 41.14% | 32.73% |
| School sixth forms | 27% | 32.07% | 29.8% |
| Sixth form colleges | 1% | 0.14% | 10.22% |
| Other education destinations | 1% | 9.07% | 11.43% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 0% | 1.64% | 2.8% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 4% | 3.36% | 3.59% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.89 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 54.6 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 56% | 27.33% | 32.85% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 81% | 42.76% | 45.33% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 92% | 19.57% | 24.94% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 47% | 9.1% | 13.02% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 65% | 12.38% | 17.19% |
| EBacc average points score | 5.26 | 2.68 | 2.97 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 95% | 88.29% | 90.4% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 97 | 132 | 141 |
| Pupils staying in education | 94% | 86.07% | 86.29% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 56% | 39.93% | 34.03% |
| School sixth forms | 32% | 35.36% | 30.82% |
| Sixth form colleges | 3% | 0.21% | 10.38% |
| Other education destinations | 3% | 10.71% | 11.08% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 0% | 0.79% | 1.99% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 1% | 1.29% | 2.13% |
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Exam Result Not Published
Due to the pandemic, 2020 and 2021 Secondary school exam
results were not published at school level.
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.8 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 48.8 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 42% 1 | 15.29% | 29.3% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 63% 1 | 27.67% | 43.41% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 84% | 13% | 25.8% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 35% 7 | 5.24% | 11.47% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 50% 5 | 7.67% | 16.49% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.82 | 2.01 | 2.88 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 89% | 85.25% | 90.2% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 97 | 151 | 135 |
| Pupils staying in education | 86% | 80.42% | 84.08% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 68% | 34.92% | 33.25% |
| School sixth forms | 15% | 29.08% | 31.27% |
| Sixth form colleges | 0% | 0.08% | 8.45% |
| Other education destinations | 2% | 16% | 11.14% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 0% | 2.42% | 3.4% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 3% | 2.5% | 2.75% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.38 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 46.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 41% 5 | 16.9% | 29.22% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 64% 3 | 26.9% | 42.62% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 84% | 14.95% | 24.73% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 28% 6 | 5.1% | 11.33% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 45% 22 | 8.3% | 16.01% |
| EBacc average points score | 4.54 | 1.95 | 2.84 |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 88% | 84.6% | 84.87% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 95 | 171 | 140 |
| Pupils staying in education | 87% | 71.4% | 73.88% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 76% | 36.2% | 28.31% |
| School sixth forms | 12% | 31.8% | 31.6% |
| Sixth form colleges | 0% | 0% | 9.08% |
| Other education destinations | 0% | 10.3% | 5.87% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | - | 2.1% | 2.96% |
| Pupils staying in employment | - | 1.4% | 2.05% |
Discover school's performance with the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores. Attainment 8 reflects pupil achievement in 8 qualifications, while Progress 8 measures their progress from key stage 2 to 4, compared to peers across England.
| School scores | School | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Progress 8 score | 0.18 | This score shows how much progress pupils at this school made across 8 qualifications between the end of key stage 2 and the end of key stage 4. |
| Attainment 8 score | 47.5 | Schools get a score based on how well pupils have performed in up to 8 qualifications. |
Explore the percentage of pupils who attained grade 5 or higher & grade 4 or higher in their English and math GCSEs. This metric reflects their proficiency in these fundamental subjects.
| GCSE Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 36% | 16.53% | 29.55% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & Maths GCSEs | 61% | 28.63% | 43.07% |
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) ensures your child's well-rounded education. It includes essential subjects like English, math, sciences, languages, and humanities.
| EBacc Results | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering EBacc | 49% | 14.21% | 25.25% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above | 22% | 6.32% | 14.71% |
| Achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above | 23% | 6.89% | 16.26% |
| EBacc average points score | - | - | - |
Find out where our Key Stage 4 graduates are going next. Explore their different paths after finishing school 鈥� whether it's sixth form, starting work, or other adventures as they move forward.
| Pupil destinations | School | LA | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils staying in education or employment | 90% | 75.2% | 85.29% |
| Total number of pupils included in destination measures | 87 | 173 | 145 |
| Pupils staying in education | 86% | 63.5% | 58.19% |
| Further education college or other further education provider | 68% | 36.2% | 30.58% |
| School sixth forms | 16% | 33% | 32.22% |
| Sixth form colleges | - | 0% | 8.95% |
| Other education destinations | - | 2.3% | 5.7% |
| Pupils in apprenticeships | 7% | 3.8% | 4.78% |
| Pupils staying in employment | 3% | 2.3% | 2.45% |
Best Schools 2025
Bedford Free School Rankings
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Admission
Holidays & terms
Holidays 2024/25
| Holidays | Date |
|---|---|
| Autumn Half Term Holidays | 28th Oct 2024 - 4th Nov 2024 |
| Winter Holidays | 19th Dec 2024 - 3rd Jan 2025 |
| Spring Half Term Holidays | 17th Feb 2025 - 21st Feb 2025 |
| Spring Holidays | 7th Apr 2025 - 21st Apr 2025 |
| Summer Half Term Holidays | 26th May 2025 - 30th May 2025 |
| Summer Holidays | 23rd Jul 2025 - 29th Aug 2025 |
Terms Dates 2024/25
| Terms | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 3rd Sep 2024 - 27th Oct 2024 |
| Autumn Term-2 | 5th Nov 2024 - 18th Dec 2024 |
| Spring Term | 4th Jan 2025 - 16th Feb 2025 |
| Spring Term-2 | 22nd Feb 2025 - 6th Apr 2025 |
| Summer Term | 22nd Apr 2025 - 25th May 2025 |
| Summer Term-2 | 31st May 2025 - 22nd Jul 2025 |
Students Teachers
13 : 1
Student teacher ratio at Bedford Free School
Local authority ratio 19 : 1