Kempston Academy
About Kempston Academy
Kempston Academy was rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2018, and a subsequent ungraded visit in 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. The school's leadership and management, as well as its sixth-form provision, were also judged Good. For a clearer picture of academic performance, the most telling metric is Progress 8, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs. Kempston's Progress 8 score sits at -0.09, which is classed as Average by the Department for Education. That means pupils here make roughly the expected level of progress, neither significantly above nor below the national average. However, it is worth noting that the local authority average for Progress 8 in Bedford is 0.24, so Kempston sits a little below the typical school in the area. Within Bedford, the school ranks 13th out of 14 secondary schools on this measure, placing it in the bottom half locally.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 148 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 EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Oct 2024Latest monitoring visit (16 Oct 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 11 Oct 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kempston Academy
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications