Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › Harlington Upper School
Harlington Upper School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 13–18 · Academy
Goswell End Road, Harlington, Dunstable LU5 6NX · harlington.org · 01525 755100
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47.8
- average Attainment 8 score. Central Bedfordshire 43.6, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 9, September 2025
- Pupils
- 1,156
- 85% of 1,360 places
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 13.1%
- First language not English
- 4.4%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 9 in September 2025, 184 families put the school first and 202 places were offered; 100% 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 | 202 | 184 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 233 | 206 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 212 | 207 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 227 | 211 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2021Sept 2021 | 251 | 230 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.8, and 48.4% 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 (31.4 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47.8 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲48.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲75.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼33.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.22 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 39.6 | −13.1 |
| Sixth form college | 3.2 | −2.5 |
| Further education | 44.7 | +13.8 |
| Other education | 1 | +0.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.8 | +0.1 |
| Employment | 1.6 | −0.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 1.9 | −0.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.2 | +1.5 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 187 students | C (31.4) | Average -0.08 | |
| 189 students | C (31.6) | Average -0.07 | |
| 60 students | Merit+ (27.1) | Average -0.13 | |
| 6 students | Dist (35.8) | Average -0.17 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 167 | C (28.4) | -0.06 |
| 2022/23 | 118 | C (28.9) | — |
| 2021/22 | 141 | C+ (35) | — |
| 2018/19 | 130 | C+ (33.2) | -0.05 |
| 2017/18 | 156 | C (29.9) | +0.05 |
| 2016/17 | 196 | C- (28.3) | -0.12 |
| 2015/16 | 200 | C- (28.3) | -0.09 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 47.1 | −6 |
| Further education | 2.9 | −0.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 7.5 | −4.1 |
| Employment | 24.7 | +0.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 14.4 | +9 |
| Activity not captured | 3.4 | +1.4 |
Ofsted
Harlington Upper School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 3 October 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 3 Oct 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Mar 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Oct 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Sept 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
61% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (329 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 61%
- Replies
- 329
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on the 34% who had a child bullied
based on 72 parents (22%) with SEND