Schools by area › Bedford › Wixams Academy
Wixams Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–19 · Free school
Green Lane, Wixams, Bedford MK42 6BA · wixamsacademy.co.uk · 01234 608950
On the mapSearch near MK42 6BA
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 47.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Bedford 44.4, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 903
- 52% of 1,750 places
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 22.6%
- First language not English
- 16.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 154 families put the school first and 167 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 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 167 | 154 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 145 | 132 | 0.9 | 99% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 173 | 155 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 178 | 155 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 138 | 195 | 1.4▲ | 69% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 47.5, and 52.4% 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- (25.1 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●47.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲52.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲73.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲51.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.25 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 32.2 | +0.2 |
| Sixth form college | 0.6 | −0.2 |
| Further education | 57.3 | +2.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.3 | +1.5 |
| Employment | 3.5 | +1.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 1.8 | −3.1 |
| Activity not captured | 2.3 | −0.2 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39 students | C- (25.1) | Average -0.17 | |
| 39 students | C- (25.1) | Average -0.18 | |
| 23 students | Merit (25.1) | Average +0.13 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 36 | C- (25.3) | -0.19 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
Left in 2023/24
| University | 42.1 |
|---|---|
| Further and other education | 5.3 |
| Further education | 2.6 |
| Other education | 2.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 2.6 |
| Employment | 21.1 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 23.7 |
| Activity not captured | 5.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Wixams Academy on 3 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Needs attention
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 3 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Needs attention |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2024
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
- Jan 2025Monitoring visitEffective action
Mar 2024Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective Mar 2022Requires improvement
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
43% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (83 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 43%
- Positive
- 38%
- Replies
- 83
- 9% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 94% who raised concerns
based on 29 parents (35%) whose child was bullied
based on 28 parents (34%) with SEND