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Mark Rutherford School

Bedford, MK41 8PXSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Jan 2026
Progress 8
-0.05
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
129 1st-choice / 185 places
Ranking
#1,655
of 3,141 nationally

About Mark Rutherford School

Mark Rutherford School is a mixed state secondary in the Bedford local authority, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. Among the 14 schools in Bedford ranked by Progress 8, it sits 12th, placing it in the bottom half of the local league table. The top-performing peers in the area are Bedford Free School, Goldington Academy, and Bedford College, all of which post significantly stronger progress scores. The school’s own Progress 8 score of -0.05 is below the Bedford average of 0.24, meaning pupils here make slightly less academic progress than their peers across the authority. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, a downgrade from its previous Good rating. Leadership and management, along with the sixth-form provision, were both rated Good, but the quality of education, personal development, and behaviour and attitudes all require improvement.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressWentworth Drive, Bedford, Bedford, MK41 8PX
HeadteacherKelli Foster
Local AuthorityBedford
Number of Pupils1,180
Free School Meals (FSM)26.5%
School Capacity1,180 / 1,243 (95% full)
Sixth FormYes

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

14 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 27 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
ICT SuiteGymnasiumSwimming PoolSports HallPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

SwimmingCricketCross CountryAthleticsDanceRugbyMartial ArtsNetballRowing

Clubs & Activities

DebateEco ClubChessGardeningScience ClubBook ClubModel United Nations

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 Mark Rutherford School

Mark Rutherford School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.