Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › Houstone School
Houstone School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Free school
Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable LU5 5PX · houstoneschool.co.uk · 01582 377771
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected May 2025
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Central Bedfordshire 43.6, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 765
- 85% of 900 places
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 28.3%
- First language not English
- 35.6%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Advantage Schools
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 209 families put the school first and 184 places were offered; 85% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 184 | 209 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.1, and 55.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Central Bedfordshire it was 43.6, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲55.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲77.1% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼27.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.16 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
Left in 2023/24
| School sixth form | 7.7 |
|---|---|
| Sixth form college | 5.8 |
| Further education | 67.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.9 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 15.4 |
| Activity not captured | 1.9 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Houstone School on 20 May 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 20 May 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
What parents said
55% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (154 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 55%
- Replies
- 154
- 23% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 83% who raised concerns
based on the 60% who had a child bullied
based on 59 parents (38%) with SEND