Houstone School
73%
Capacity
657
Pupils
3.8x
Demand
About Houstone School
Houstone School, a secondary in Central Bedfordshire for pupils aged 11 to 16, was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2025, with all four graded categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — each receiving a Good. However, the school's academic outcomes tell a more challenging story. Its Progress 8 score, which measures how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs compared with the national average, stands at -0.74. This places it well below the local authority average of -0.46 and ranks it 13th out of 16 schools in Central Bedfordshire, putting it in the bottom 50 nationally. The Attainment 8 score, which reflects average GCSE performance across eight subjects, is 32.7, and just 44.2% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths.
The school's exam results show particular challenges in certain subject areas. The English Progress 8 score is -0.65, while maths is -0.48, and the EBacc average point score is 2.77. Only 1.9% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects, and none achieved a grade 5 or above in it. The basics measure — pupils achieving grade 5 or above in both English and maths — sits at 26.9%. Parent feedback, gathered through Ofsted's Parent View survey between September 2024 and September 2025, is mixed. While 55% of the 154 respondents would recommend the school, only 38% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and a significant 52% strongly disagreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need. On behaviour, 76% agreed or strongly agreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved.
Houstone School has capacity for 900 pupils but currently has 657 on roll, and it was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 30 applications for 8 places, with a first-preference ratio of 3.75 applicants per place. The school offers a range of facilities including a theatre, library, sports hall, tennis courts, and music rooms, plus clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and coding. Sports on offer include hockey, rowing, gymnastics, and martial arts. SEND provisions cover autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, visual impairment, and social and emotional mental health. With 27.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake. It may suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and are comfortable with a school that is still working to raise academic outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Parkside Drive, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 5PX |
| Headteacher | Elizabeth English |
| Local Authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 657 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.6% |
| School Capacity | 657 / 900 (73% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 May 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 26 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.74)
2884th of 3,141
Nationally
327th of 350
In East of England
13th of 16
In Central Bedfordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Ofsted Parent View
154 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed8
30
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
12 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 16:00
Breakfast club
08:00-08:24
After-school care
16:00-17:30
Source: houstoneschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British39.0%
- White (other)19.2%
- Mixed12.5%
- Asian6.5%
- Black1.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Houstone School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Parkside Drive, Dunstable
Central Bedfordshire, LU5 5PX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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