Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › Vandyke Upper School
Vandyke Upper School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 13–18 · Academy
Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard LU7 3DY · vandyke.beds.sch.uk · 01525 636700
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · Jan 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 48.2
- average Attainment 8 score. Central Bedfordshire 43.6, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Year 9, September 2025
- Pupils
- 1,517
- 77 over 1,440 places · 105%
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 16.6%
- First language not English
- 6.9%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Vandyke Upper School
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 9 in September 2025, 395 families put the school first and 343 places were offered; 87% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 9 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 343 | 395 | 1.2▲ | 87% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 329 | 397 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 337 | 380 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 334 | 349 | 1▲ | 96% |
| September 2021Sept 2021 | 355 | 383 | 1.1▲ | 92% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.2, and 48% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Central Bedfordshire it was 43.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (35 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲48.2 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲48.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲71.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼24.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.16 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 43.6 | −13.3 |
| Sixth form college | 0.3 | 0 |
| Further education | 40.3 | +12.8 |
| Other education | 0.3 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 3 | −1.8 |
| Employment | 1.7 | −1.5 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.6 | +1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 4.1 | +2.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 students | C+ (35) | Average -0.02 | |
| 200 students | C+ (35) | Average -0.02 | |
| 98 students | Dist (34.1) | Above average +0.23 | |
| 11 students | Dist- (31.4) | Well below average -0.87 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 182 | C+ (32.4) | -0.17 |
| 2022/23 | 147 | C (31.1) | — |
| 2021/22 | 160 | C+ (33.5) | — |
| 2018/19 | 89 | C+ (33.4) | +0.20 |
| 2017/18 | 133 | C+ (31.9) | +0.12 |
| 2016/17 | 119 | C (29.6) | +0.07 |
| 2015/16 | 126 | C (30.7) | +0.12 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 48.3 | +4.2 |
| Further and other education | 1 | −3.5 |
| Further education | 0.5 | −2.9 |
| Other education | 0.5 | −0.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 8.6 | +1.3 |
| Employment | 29.2 | −0.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 9.6 | −1.7 |
| Activity not captured | 3.3 | +0.5 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 24 January 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Vandyke Upper School was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 23 Jan 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Mar 2015
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
May 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Mar 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Apr 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
94% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (167 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 94%
- Replies
- 167
- 11% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 63% who raised concerns
based on the 28% who had a child bullied
based on 27 parents (16%) with SEND