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Bedford Free School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Free school
Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AD · bedfordfreeschool.co.uk · 01234 332299
On the mapSearch near MK42 9AD
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Jan 2020
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Bedford 44.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 536
- 36 over 500 places · 107%
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 29.5%
- First language not English
- 66.4%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Advantage Schools
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 168 families put the school first and 109 places were offered; 64% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 109 | 168 | 1.5▲ | 64% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 108 | 190 | 1.8▲ | 52% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 99 | 189 | 1.9▲ | 51% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 96 | 209 | 2.2▲ | 45% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 111 | 223 | 2▲ | 48% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.5, and 36.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bedford it was 44.4, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼36.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼62.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲88.8% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.51 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 35.7 | −4.1 |
| Further education | 55.1 | +3.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 1 | 0 |
| Employment | 1 | — |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.1 | −3 |
| Activity not captured | 4.1 | +3.1 |
Ofsted
Bedford Free School was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 15 January 2020, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework. An ungraded inspection in Apr 2025 found: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 23 Apr 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Jan 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jan 2020Outstanding
Quality of education Outstanding Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Safeguarding Effective Feb 2014Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
70% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (91 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 70%
- Replies
- 91
- 17% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 68% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied
based on 22 parents (24%) with SEND