Classpot

Bedford College

Bedford, MK42 9AHSecondaryAges 16–99MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2023
Progress 8
+0.43
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
277 1st-choice / 290 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#607 of 3,141 nationally

About Bedford College

Bedford College sits third out of 14 secondary schools in the Bedford local authority, placing it comfortably in the top quarter of its local area. Among its closest competitors, Bedford Free School and Goldington Academy lead the pack with higher Progress 8 scores, while Lincroft Academy follows just behind. The school is a state-funded, mixed-gender institution for students aged 16 to 99, making it unusual as a dedicated sixth-form college within the secondary landscape. Its headteacher, Yiannis Koursis, oversees a capacity of 1,500 students, and the school is notably oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 654 applications for 290 places, with 277 first-preference applications resulting in 260 offers. That oversubscription ratio of 2.26 to one suggests strong local demand, particularly given that 37.2 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range16 to 99 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressCauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedford, MK42 9AH
HeadteacherYiannis Koursis
Local AuthorityBedford
Free School Meals (FSM)37.2%
School Capacity1,500
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

21 Mar 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 16 May 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Sixth Form CentreSports HallSwimming PoolAstro TurfLibraryScience LabsPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

GymnasticsDanceRoundersCross CountrySwimmingCricketRugbyBasketballAthletics

Clubs & Activities

CodingArt ClubFilm ClubDramaChoirYoung EnterpriseModel United NationsEco ClubDuke of EdinburghDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bedford College

Bedford College has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.