School Chooser

Stratton School

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademy917 pupilsSixth formBiggleswadeCentral Bedfordshire
School Chooser Score
23
Below
similar schools
Likely range 17 to 31
Out of 100. Better than 26% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, April 2025
Strong pass in English and maths30%England 46%
Attendance89.9%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families20%A bit fewer than most schools
Places403 spare917 pupils, 1,320 places
Pupils per teacher17.0School workforce census

Stratton School is a converter academy in Biggleswade for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 917 pupils and room for 1,320. About 20 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 23 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 26% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2025, no overall grade.

Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JB01767 220000stratton.schoolMr Sam Farmer headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 23 April 2025, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

203 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score38.9
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths30%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths54%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11-0.17In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 41.341.320182019: 41.941.920192022: 46.646.620222023: 39.139.120232024: 38.638.620242025: 38.938.92025
Since 2018: -2.4Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018Central BedfordshireEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11203199205253271241
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 838.938.639.146.641.941.344.146.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8-0.17-0.33+0.02-0.35-0.26
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths30%26%29%41%32%28%42%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths54%50%50%63%54%56%66%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score3.423.383.414.053.733.643.814.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry28%31%39%32%35%34%31%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged28.723.523.932.833.028.9
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged42.041.142.649.044.242.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers26.023.031.320.922.4
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers62.061.468.355.956.2

Subjects

Results came out for 23 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.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Physical Education (15% here, 56% across England), Social Studies (19% here, 54% across England), Art and Design (31% here, 58% across England), History (26% here, 52% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science, music.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics202 entries · 13th of 15 in Central Bedfordshire
42%England 53%
English Language202 entries · 14th of 15 in Central Bedfordshire
36%England 54%
English Literature181 entries · 15th of 15 in Central Bedfordshire
33%England 58%
Combined Science144 entries · 15th of 15 in Central Bedfordshire
11%England 36%
History134 entries · 15th of 15 in Central Bedfordshire
26%England 52%
Geography88 entries · 14th of 15 in Central Bedfordshire
32%England 51%
Business83 entries · 11th of 11 in Central Bedfordshire
25%England 51%
Biology55 entries · 5th of 12 in Central Bedfordshire
78%England 82%
Chemistry54 entries · 6th of 12 in Central Bedfordshire
74%England 81%
Physics54 entries · 4th of 12 in Central Bedfordshire
83%England 82%
Social Studies53 entries · 7th of 7 in Central Bedfordshire
19%England 54%
Art and Design42 entries · 10th of 13 in Central Bedfordshire
31%England 58%
French38 entries · 7th of 9 in Central Bedfordshire
50%England 60%
Computer Science28 entries · 6th of 12 in Central Bedfordshire
46%England 56%
Physical Education27 entries · 12th of 12 in Central Bedfordshire
15%England 56%
Media / Film / TV25 entries · 6th of 6 in Central Bedfordshire
40%England 55%
Economics24 entries · 2nd of 2 in Central Bedfordshire
54%England 70%
German20 entries · 3rd of 6 in Central Bedfordshire
50%England 63%
Religious Studies20 entries · 8th of 10 in Central Bedfordshire
50%England 60%
31%England 50%
Music14 entries
29%England 61%
Drama10 entries
50%England 60%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics20210%42%71%53%2,319 of 3,211
English Language2028%36%53%54%2,781 of 3,210
English Literature1814%33%58%58%2,983 of 3,202
Combined Science1440%11%35%36%2,957 of 3,084
History1347%26%42%52%2,915 of 3,126
Geography8811%32%49%51%2,534 of 3,116
Business836%25%42%51%1,591 of 1,806
Biology5520%78%96%82%1,721 of 2,570
Chemistry5417%74%98%81%1,811 of 2,537
Physics5430%83%98%82%1,468 of 2,546
Social Studies532%19%38%54%1,001 of 1,043
Art and Design4212%31%52%58%2,498 of 2,818
French3811%50%66%60%1,393 of 1,974
Computer Science2821%46%46%56%1,158 of 1,861
Physical Education274%15%33%56%1,508 of 1,559
Media / Film / TV258%40%48%55%456 of 580
Economics248%54%63%70%108 of 142
German205%50%65%63%418 of 571
Religious Studies2030%50%50%60%1,333 of 1,825
Design & Technology166%31%56%50%
Music1421%29%43%61%
Drama100%50%70%60%
Other Modern Languages60%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.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

79 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC29.0 points per entry
A level progress+0.04Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better8%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished91%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students79130100100241307
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry29.0429.0227.7132.7028.3727.75
Average A level gradeCCC-C+CC-
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS30.0030.7329.8334.7530.3332.28
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects8%16%18%12%10%14%
A level progressA level value added+0.04-0.14-0.05+0.07
Applied general courses: points per entry31.7533.8233.6834.44
T levels: points per entry36.67
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed91%88%95%84%87%92%

A level subjects

12 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsHistory18Geography15Mathematics13Psychology12Biology8Economics7Chemistry7Physics6Sociology6Fine Art6English Language and Literature6Media / Film / TV Studies5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
History18 entries · 11% A* or A · 100% passed
39%England 55%
Geography15 entries · 0% A* or A · 80% passed
13%England 51%
Mathematics13 entries · 23% A* or A · 100% passed
54%England 60%
Psychology12 entries · 17% A* or A · 83% passed
33%England 46%
Biology8 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
13%England 49%
Economics7 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
29%England 57%
Chemistry7 entries · 29% A* or A · 100% passed
57%England 53%
Physics6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 51%
Sociology6 entries · 17% A* or A · 67% passed
17%England 49%
Fine Art6 entries · 33% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 65%
English Language and Literature6 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 47%
Media / Film / TV Studies5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 46%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

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 3 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

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
28.742.0
Gap 13.3England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
9%36%
Gap 27 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
38.839.2
Gap 0.4England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

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.

Plenty of spare places985 pupils for 1,320 places, 2024/25
75% full

335 places were empty (25% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have grown by 19% since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Central Bedfordshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

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.

Pupils on roll917Census January 2026
Places1,32069% full
Pupils from low-income families18%20% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English5%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support7%68 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan5%49 pupils with a plan
Average class size20.241 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils15%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)21%£188,100 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls457 / 460
White British pupils78%

Specialist SEND provision. Resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) with 16 pupils, for autism.

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 Central Bedfordshire with autism provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (41), Autistic spectrum disorder (37), Specific learning difficulty (16), Moderate learning difficulty (8), Physical disability (8), language and communications needs (6).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll917986782832845869
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals18%19%16%15%12%10%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language5%6%5%5%4%5%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support7%7%14%13%14%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans5%4%3%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 89.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance89.9%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school29.7%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils31.72024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission3.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence10.2%11.1%11.1%10.6%6.4%7.5%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence6.8%7.9%7.6%8.0%4.8%5.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence3.4%3.2%3.5%2.6%1.6%1.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence29.7%31.8%32.1%30.3%16.9%22.0%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate31.734.423.229.514.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions17202

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 205 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training88%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 58%, compared with 95% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training88%91%95%93%
Education82%85%83%84%
Apprenticeship3%3%6%4%
Work2%3%6%5%
Not in education, work or training9%5%2%6%

After sixth form

Where the 92 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training80%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 46%, compared with 85% for everyone else.

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training69%England 72%
Top-third universities13%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship8%England 6%
Higher technical course4%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND
Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training80%88%88%
Education35%46%46%
Apprenticeship8%7%3%1%
Work38%35%39%
Not in education, work or training14%6%9%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers53.9full-time equivalent, 57 people
Pupils per teacher17.0Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers97%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants14.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£53,990
Teachers who left in the year19%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher4.42024/25

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.

Spend per pupil£7,420England £7,965. Total £7.3m
Income per pupil£8,357England £8,423. Total £8.2m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,192England £4,444
Money in reserve-4%In the red: -£307k, -£312 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£924kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,420spent per pupil

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

Crimes within 500 m19512 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate54 per 1,000 people41% lower than the England average
Typical house price£365,000Central Bedfordshire
Nearest bus stop80 mStratton Upper School, 16 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Edward Peake CofE VC SchoolChurch of England0.7 miles359Report card 2026Compare
Sandy Secondary SchoolFoundation3.9 miles1,259No overall grade 202541Compare
Henlow Church of England AcademyAcademy4.0 miles599No overall grade 202521Compare
Samuel Whitbread AcademyAcademy4.5 miles1,657Good 202341Compare
Etonbury AcademyAcademy4.6 miles1,158Good 202064Compare
Pix Brook AcademyFree school4.8 miles1,011Good 202456Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Stratton School 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.

Beats26%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the lower half of its group. Its score of 23 is 15 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 4 · middle 38 · highest 86100

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 Stratton School, 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.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Wootton AcademyAcademy12.4 miles822No overall grade 202440Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 23 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 23% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 17 to 31. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%below
-0.17
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 203 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 1.4 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.07
DfE progress measure; 203 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%below
-0.10
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.06
2024/25; 882 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.06
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 203 pupils
What pupils do next5%below
-0.03
205 pupils
What parents say0%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 Stratton School a good school?

The figures are weak. Stratton School scores 23 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 26% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 17 to 31, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Stratton School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Stratton School not judged at its last full inspection on 23 April 2025.

How good are Stratton School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 30% 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 38.9, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Stratton School have?

917 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,320 places, so it is 69% full.

Is Stratton School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 335 places were empty in 2024/25 (25% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Stratton School?

Pupils were in school 89.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 30% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Stratton School?

The average class had 20.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 15% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does Stratton School have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has resourced provision (extra staff and funding within a mainstream school) for autism. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

Does Stratton School have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was C. 12 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, SG18 8JB
Telephone
01767 220000
Website
www.stratton.school
Headteacher
Mr Sam Farmer
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Multi-academy trust
Meridian Trust (36 schools)
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
Ward
Biggleswade East
Constituency
North Bedfordshire
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 February 2012 (academy converter)
URN
137886 · LAESTAB 8234005 · UKPRN 10035809
Formerly
Stratton Upper School and Community College

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from