Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › Ardley Hill Academy
Ardley Hill Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Academy
Lowther Road, Dunstable LU6 3NZ · ardleyhill.org.uk · 01582 667955
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jul 2024
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 60%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Central Bedfordshire 50%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 422
- 81% of 520 places
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 12.8%
- First language not English
- 22.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 29 families put the school first and 37 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 37 | 29 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 59 | 53 | 0.9 | 94% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 49 | 43 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 49 | 33 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 48 | 43 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 60% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 3% the higher standard. Across Central Bedfordshire it was 50%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ●60% | 62% | ||
| ▼3% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
| ●104 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ardley Hill Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 16 July 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 16 Jul 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Feb 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Feb 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective - May 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
- Feb 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
- Mar 2019Monitoring visitEffective action
Apr 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Mar 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Oct 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
85% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (171 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 85%
- Replies
- 171
- 37% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 66% who raised concerns
based on the 30% who had a child bullied
based on 44 parents (26%) with SEND