Classpot

Goldington Academy

Bedford, MK41 9BXSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2022
Progress 8
+0.85
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.7×
Oversubscribed
303 1st-choice / 180 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#157 of 3,141 nationally

About Goldington Academy

Goldington Academy is a secondary school in Bedford that has held a Good rating from Ofsted since at least its most recent inspection in 2022, but the real story is in its exam results. The school achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.85 in the 2023/24 academic year, which places it well above average nationally and ranks it second out of 14 schools in the Bedford local authority. This score means pupils here make significantly more academic progress than the average student across England, and it is more than three times the local authority average Progress 8 score of 0.24. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 54.1 and its EBacc average point score of 5.03 further underline strong academic performance, with 80.9% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. Ofsted’s breakdown shows that leadership and management, as well as personal development, were both rated Outstanding, while behaviour and attitudes and quality of education were rated Good.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressHaylands Way, Bedford, Bedford, MK41 9BX
HeadteacherFrancis Galbraith
Local AuthorityBedford
Number of Pupils942
Free School Meals (FSM)22.7%
School Capacity942 / 750 (126% full)

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

1 Feb 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 17 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
ICT SuiteSwimming PoolSports HallScience LabsLibraryGymnasium

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RowingSwimmingCricketCross CountryNetballGymnasticsMartial ArtsRoundersBadmintonAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubChoirEco ClubModel United NationsYoung Enterprise

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Goldington Academy

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