Kempston Academy
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Kempston Academy is a sponsored academy in Bedford for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 773 pupils and room for 982. About 30 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 43 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 70% of the 50 schools most like it.
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7EB01234 290900kempstonacademy.co.ukMr Paul House headteacherAll details
Ofsted
Ofsted hasn't published an inspection for this school yet.
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
166 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 166 | 143 | 75 | 68 | 144 | 99 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 40.3 | 37.3 | 35.5 | 37.7 | 39.0 | 38.9 | 45.1 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | -0.09 | -0.20 | -0.11 | -0.21 | -0.14 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 36% | 32% | 19% | 19% | 24% | 22% | 44% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 54% | 55% | 48% | 37% | 47% | 48% | 66% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 3.53 | 3.34 | 3.00 | 3.10 | 3.30 | 3.31 | 3.95 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 36% | 59% | 17% | 31% | 42% | 37% | 37% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 25.7 | 25.7 | 26.4 | 30.9 | 31.8 | 37.1 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 45.2 | 44.1 | 40.6 | 40.9 | 42.3 | 39.4 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 25.7 | 22.1 | 29.6 | 25.2 | 29.5 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 60.6 | – | 58.3 | 51.4 | 48.9 | – | – |
Subjects
Results came out for 16 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.
Strongest subjects
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Physical Education (13% here, 56% across England), Spanish (22% here, 54% across England), Geography (22% here, 51% across England), Design & Technology (29% here, 50% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 161 | 18% | 41% | 58% | 54% | 2,483 of 3,210 |
| Mathematics | 160 | 14% | 43% | 61% | 53% | 2,236 of 3,211 |
| English Literature | 157 | 11% | 50% | 67% | 58% | 2,009 of 3,202 |
| Combined Science | 141 | 4% | 28% | 50% | 36% | 2,054 of 3,084 |
| History | 92 | 22% | 42% | 52% | 52% | 2,077 of 3,126 |
| Geography | 77 | 5% | 22% | 31% | 51% | 2,913 of 3,116 |
| Spanish | 45 | 7% | 22% | 36% | 54% | 1,821 of 1,941 |
| Physical Education | 38 | 0% | 13% | 24% | 56% | 1,515 of 1,559 |
| Design & Technology | 35 | 3% | 29% | 49% | 50% | 1,189 of 1,478 |
| Art and Design | 27 | 7% | 48% | 52% | 58% | 1,922 of 2,818 |
| Biology | 19 | 37% | 95% | 95% | 82% | – |
| Chemistry | 18 | 50% | 94% | 100% | 81% | – |
| Physics | 18 | 56% | 100% | 100% | 82% | – |
| French | 17 | 18% | 47% | 59% | 60% | – |
| Computer Science | 14 | 14% | 43% | 50% | 56% | – |
| Other Modern Languages | 8 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 49% | – |
In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2018
60 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2018 | 2017 | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 60 | 62 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 47% | 31% | 48% | 66% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 2% | 5% | 10% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 102.0 | 98.0 | 102.4 | 105.3 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 101.0 | 98.0 | 102.1 | 104.5 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 101.0 | 100.0 | 104.0 | 106.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 57% | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 52% | 45% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 63% | 52% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | -4.6 | -4.5 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | -4.9 | -5.4 | – | – |
| Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged | 33% | 23% | – | – |
| Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged | 56% | 36% | – | – |
A level and sixth-form results, 2025
24 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 24 | 31 | 48 | 49 | 68 | 100 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | – | 9.09 | 15.17 | 14.12 | 16.21 | 25.70 |
| Average A level grade | – | E | D- | E+ | D- | C- |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | – | – | – | 15.56 | – | 27.50 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | – | – | – | 0% | – | 0% |
| A level progressA level value added | – | -1.03 | – | – | -0.41 | -0.21 |
| Applied general courses: points per entry | 25.56 | 18.71 | 18.84 | 24.90 | – | – |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | – | – | – | 100% | – | 100% |
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 7 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At GCSE, 2025
At the end of primary school, 2018
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Open to all. There is no entrance test.
205 places were empty (20% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 28% since 2021/22.
In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place (119 offers for 180 places).
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | Got a place | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Secondary | 180 | 119 | 119 | – all offered | LA |
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) and SEN unit with 18 pupils and a SEN unit with 20 pupils, for social, emotional and mental health.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Bedford with social, emotional and mental health provision.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (57), Moderate learning difficulty (46), Autistic spectrum disorder (29), Specific learning difficulty (22), language and communications needs (14), Other difficulty or disability (10).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 773 | 824 | 834 | 733 | 646 | 558 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 30% | 29% | 29% | 28% | 26% | 28% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 27% | 27% | 26% | 27% | 30% | 30% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 12% | 12% | 9% | 10% | 12% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 5% | 5% | 6% | 6% | 5% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.4% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 8.7% | 8.8% | 10.7% | 9.7% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 5.1% | 5.4% | 6.8% | 6.5% | 3.6% | 3.6% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.9% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 2.8% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 24.4% | 28.3% | 32.9% | 33.3% | 15.8% | 20.8% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 33.9 | 37.5 | 47.1 | 25.9 | 25.6 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 2 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 3 | – | – |
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 75 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 78%, compared with 83% for everyone else.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 81% | 82% | 87% | 97% |
| Education | 80% | 71% | 77% | 94% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 10% | 4% | 0% |
| Work | 0% | 2% | 6% | 3% |
| Not in education, work or training | 11% | 13% | 9% | 3% |
After sixth form
Where the 47 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 55%, compared with 72% for everyone else.
Where the ones heading for university went
Among students from low-income families, 33% went on to degree-level study or training and 0% to a top-third university.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 64% | 65% | 78% | – |
| Education | 43% | 33% | 44% | – |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 2% | 0% | 0% |
| Work | 21% | 30% | 34% | – |
| Not in education, work or training | 30% | 23% | 19% | – |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy | Academy | 1.1 miles | 576 | No overall grade 2025 | 62 | Compare |
| Wootton Academy | Academy | 1.7 miles | 822 | No overall grade 2024 | 40 | Compare |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College | Foundation | 1.9 miles | 1,422 | Not inspected | 39 | Compare |
| Wixams Academy | Free school | 2.3 miles | 903 | Report card 2026 | 40 | Compare |
| Bedford Free School | Free school | 2.4 miles | 536 | Outstanding 2020 | 81 | Compare |
| Bedford Academy | Academy | 2.5 miles | 1,480 | Good 2023 | 67 | Compare |
| Marston Vale Middle School | Academy | 2.9 miles | 563 | No overall grade 2024 | 47 | Compare |
| Castle Newnham School | Academy | 3.1 miles | 624 | Report card 2026 | 64 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Kempston Academy with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Kempston Academy, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daubeney Academy | Academy | 1.1 miles | 576 | No overall grade 2025 | 62 | Compare |
| Bedford Academy | Academy | 2.5 miles | 1,480 | Good 2023 | 67 | Compare |
| Houstone School | Free school | 13.5 miles | 765 | No overall grade 2025 | 63 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 43 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 43% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 32 to 54. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | below | -0.22 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 166 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 0% | no data | – | |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.06 | DfE progress measure; 166 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well above | +0.21 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | -0.02 | 2024/25; 860 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | above | +0.07 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 166 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | well below | -0.10 | 75 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Kempston Academy a good school?
It is about average. Kempston Academy scores 43 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 70% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 32 to 54, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
How good are Kempston Academy's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 36% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 40.3, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about level with children across England who started secondary school at the same level.
How good are Kempston Academy's SATs results?
In summer 2018, 47% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 66%. 2% went further and reached the higher level.
How many pupils does Kempston Academy have?
773 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 982 places, so it is 79% full.
Is Kempston Academy oversubscribed?
Probably not. 205 places were empty in 2024/25 (20% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Kempston Academy?
Pupils were in school 91.4% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 24% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Kempston Academy?
The average class had 25.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 7% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does Kempston Academy have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) and sen unit for social, emotional and mental health. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does Kempston Academy have a sixth form?
Yes.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7EB
- Telephone
- 01234 290900
- Website
- www.kempstonacademy.co.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul House
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Multi-academy trust
- Chiltern Learning Trust (21 schools)
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Ward
- Kempston West
- Constituency
- Bedford
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 November 2015 (new provision)
- URN
- 142387 · LAESTAB 8224004 · UKPRN 10054144
- Formerly
- Robert Bruce Middle School, Hastingsbury Business & Enterprise College
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2017/18.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Bedford council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.