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Mark Rutherford School

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy

Wentworth Drive, Bedford MK41 8PX · markrutherford.beds.sch.uk · 01234 290200

On the mapSearch near MK41 8PX

Overview

Ofsted
Report card
Nov 2025 · graded by area, with no overall grade
GCSEs, 2024/25
41.5
average Attainment 8 score. Bedford 44.4, England 46
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,150
93% of 1,243 places
Local authority
Bedford
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
30.4%
First language not English
12%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Mark Rutherford School Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, 154 families put the school first and 186 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 206 (Places 224)206September 2023: 152 (Places 186)152September 2024: 130 (Places 214)130September 2025: 129 (Places 185)129September 2026: 154 (Places 186)154Places 186
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261861540.8100%
September 2025Sept 20251851290.7100%
September 2024Sept 20242141300.6100%
September 2023Sept 20231861520.8100%
September 2022Sept 20222242060.9100%

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.5, and 39.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bedford it was 44.4, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C- (28.3 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: 46.7 (England 46.3)46.72017/18: 44.6 (England 46.5)44.62018/19: 43.4 (England 46.7)43.42021/22: 42.7 (England 48.8)42.72022/23: 41.9 (England 46.3)41.92023/24: 45.4 (England 45.9)45.42024/25: 41.5 (England 46.0)41.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼41.546.0
▼39.5%45.4%
▼61.8%64.8%
▼15.0%40.5%
▼3.524.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form30.3−6.9
Further education56.4+16.1
Other education0.9−0.6
Apprenticeship3.4−2.2
Employment3.4−2.2
Not in a lasting destination3.4−4.3
Activity not captured2.1+0.1

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: 28.9 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 31.2 (England 32.1)C2018/19: 31.8 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 36.1 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 29.8 (England 34.2)C2023/24: 26.8 (England 34.4)C-2024/25: 28.3 (England 35.0)C-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
78 studentsC- (28.3)Below average -0.19
78 studentsC- (28.3)Below average -0.19
40 studentsDist- (31.7)Average +0.19
11.6%AAB or better
100%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2466C- (26.8)-0.50
2022/2378C (29.8)—
2021/2263B- (36.1)—
2018/19115C+ (31.8)+0.18
2017/18117C (31.2)+0.18
2016/1780C (28.9)-0.09
2015/16119C (29.7)-0.03

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University46.3+2.1
Other education1.30
Apprenticeship7.3+0.8
Employment24.4−5.5
Not in a lasting destination11+0.6
Activity not captured9.8+2

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Mark Rutherford School on 11 November 2025 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.

Inspected
11 Nov 2025
Report card
Safeguarding
Met

Inspection reports

Graded areas

InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Post-16 provisionNeeds attention
Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Jun 2023

Earlier inspections

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jun 2023Requires improvement
    Quality of educationRequires improvement
    Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
    Personal developmentRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementGood
    Sixth formGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Mar 2020Ungraded inspectionConcerns
    SafeguardingEffective

Before September 2019

  • Nov 2012Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
  • Feb 2010Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement

What parents said

88% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (120 replies, to 6 April 2026).

Recommend
88%
Positive
80%
Replies
120
10% · 6 Apr 2026
Child is happy at school●86% agreeEngland 84%
Child feels safe●86% agreeEngland 85%
Pupils are well behaved▼72% agreeEngland 78%
Gets the right support to learn●80% agreeEngland 78%
School communicates well▲82% agreeEngland 77%
Acts in child’s best interests●77% agreeEngland 76%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲82% agreeEngland 74%

based on the 84% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲55% agreeEngland 43%

based on 24 parents (20%) whose child was bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲83% agreeEngland 63%

based on 41 parents (34%) with SEND

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