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Cedars Upper School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 13–18 · Academy

Mentmore Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2AE · cedarsupper.org.uk · 01525 219300

On the mapSearch near LU7 2AE

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Apr 2023
GCSEs, 2024/25
48.5
average Attainment 8 score. Central Bedfordshire 43.6, England 46
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 9, September 2025
Pupils
1,135
84% of 1,350 places
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
15.5%
First language not English
9.7%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Chiltern Learning Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 9 in September 2025, 188 families put the school first and 236 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20212022202320242025September 2021: 157 (Places 181)157September 2022: 164 (Places 175)164September 2023: 133 (Places 171)133September 2024: 232 (Places 287)232September 2025: 188 (Places 236)188Places 236
Year 9PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2025Sept 20252361880.8100%
September 2024Sept 20242872320.8100%
September 2023Sept 20231711330.8100%
September 2022Sept 20221751640.9100%
September 2021Sept 20211811570.9100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 48.5, and 49.5% 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 B- (35.6 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 47.0 (England 46.3)47.02017/18: 47.3 (England 46.5)47.32018/19: 49.1 (England 46.7)49.12021/22: 53.4 (England 48.8)53.42022/23: 46.4 (England 46.3)46.42023/24: 43.9 (England 45.9)43.92024/25: 48.5 (England 46.0)48.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲48.546.0
▲49.5%45.4%
▲77.7%64.8%
●39.5%40.5%
▲4.324.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form45.4−8.5
Sixth form college0.40
Further education38.2+7.3
Other education0.8—
Apprenticeship3.4−0.5
Employment3.8−1
Not in a lasting destination3.8−1.4
Activity not captured4.2+3.3

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 29.7 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 30.2 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 32.2 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 27.6 (England 32.9)C-2021/22: 39.5 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 32.9 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 34.7 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 35.6 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
112 studentsB- (35.6)Average +0.11
112 studentsB- (35.6)Average +0.10
63 studentsDist- (32.6)Average 0.00
15 studentsDist+ (38.9)Average +0.49
20.7%AAB or better
98.9%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24106C+ (34.7)-0.07
2022/23160C+ (32.9)—
2021/22117B (39.5)—
2018/19165C- (27.6)-0.35
2017/18150C+ (32.2)+0.14
2016/17162C (30.2)-0.01
2015/16147C (29.7)-0.08

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University44.4−23.8
Further education1.6+0.8
Apprenticeship5.6−2.2
Employment29+13.5
Not in a lasting destination16.1+11.4
Activity not captured3.2+0.1

Ofsted

Cedars Upper School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 19 April 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
19 Apr 2023
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2017

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Oct 2021Monitoring visit
    SafeguardingMet

Before September 2019

  • Oct 2017Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Sept 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (210 replies, to 1 April 2024).

Recommend
83%
Replies
210
21% · 1 Apr 2024
Child is happy at school▼85% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe●91% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▼75% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲86% agreeEngland 83%
Child does well●87% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼67% agreeEngland 83%
Told how child is doing●84% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects●90% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities▼87% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▼74% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly●75% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 83% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲57% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 30% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼62% agreeEngland 67%

based on 40 parents (19%) with SEND

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