Manshead Church of England Academy

About Manshead Church of England Academy

Manshead Church of England Academy in Central Bedfordshire is rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2021, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in 2015. The school received Good marks across every category inspected, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. However, the headline exam metric tells a more measured story. The school’s Progress 8 score for 2023/24 stands at -0.53, which is below the local authority average of -0.46 and places it 11th out of 16 secondary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Nationally, it ranks in the bottom 50% of schools, sitting at the 84th percentile. This means that, on average, pupils at Manshead achieve around half a grade less per subject across eight GCSEs compared with pupils nationally who had similar starting points.

Looking more closely at the academic data, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 40.8, and 57.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, though that figure drops to 36.1% for grade 5 or above. Entry into the English Baccalaureate is low at 11.7%, and only 5.9% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is more encouraging: the value-added score is -0.02, which is classed as Average, and the average points per entry is 31.54, equivalent to a grade C. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade. With 37 pupils in the sixth-form cohort, it is a relatively small provision, but one where students broadly achieve in line with expectations. The school’s Progress 8 banding is described as well below average, which families should weigh alongside the Ofsted Good rating when considering academic outcomes.

Manshead is a Church of England secondary for pupils aged 11 to 19, with a current roll of 1,146 against a capacity of 1,350. It is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 31 applications for 20 places and 11 first-preference offers made. The school has a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, astro turf, and a sixth-form centre. It offers ten sports and eight clubs, from rowing to Model UN. SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and a dedicated SEN unit. With 19.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It will suit families who value a strong pastoral and spiritual ethos alongside a wide extracurricular offer, but who are mindful that academic progress is currently below both the local and national average.

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