Classpot

Biddenham International School and Sports College

Bedford, MK40 4AZSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Nov 2024
Progress 8
+0.12
Above average
−20+2
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
300 1st-choice / 234 places
Ranking
#1,271
of 3,141 nationally

About Biddenham International School and Sports College

Biddenham International School and Sports College sits in the Bedford local authority, where it ranks 8th out of 14 secondary schools by Progress 8. That places it in the middle of the pack locally, behind the top-performing peers in the area: Bedford Free School, Goldington Academy, and Bedford College. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary with a sixth form, and it serves a notably diverse intake — 34.2% of its 1,357 pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, confirmed that standards are being maintained at Good, a rating it has held consistently. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 300 first-preference applications for 234 places, with 220 of those offers going to first-preference families. That level of demand suggests it is a popular choice for families in and around Bedford, even if it isn't the highest-ranked school in the LA.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressBiddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedford, MK40 4AZ
HeadteacherDavid Bailey
Local AuthorityBedford
Number of Pupils1,357
Free School Meals (FSM)34.2%
School Capacity1,357 / 1,500 (90% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 120 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, 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

27 Nov 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (27 Nov 2024): Standards maintained

Source: Ofsted, 30 Apr 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
ICT SuiteAstro TurfScience LabsTennis CourtsSports HallLibrarySwimming PoolPlaying FieldsSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

19

Sports

AthleticsFootballTennisRugbyCricketRoundersMartial ArtsGymnasticsBadmintonSwimming

Clubs & Activities

OrchestraDebateYoung EnterpriseGardeningCodingModel United NationsChoirEco ClubNewspaper

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 Biddenham International School and Sports College

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