Priory Academy
115%
Capacity
808
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Priory Academy
Priory Academy, a mixed state secondary in Central Bedfordshire for pupils aged 9 to 16, posts a Progress 8 score of -0.21. That is notably better than the local authority average of -0.46 for similar schools, placing it 7th out of 16 schools in the area and in the top half of the LA table. The school is oversubscribed, with 808 pupils against a capacity of 700, and 13.7% of students are eligible for free school meals. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2013. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, and it is not a boarding or nursery provider.
Academically, the picture is mixed. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 41.7 is solid, and 62.4% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 41.9% at grade 5 or above. Progress in maths is a bright spot, with a Progress 8 score of +0.12, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than the national average in that subject. English progress is broadly neutral at -0.04. However, progress in the EBacc subjects is weaker at -0.3, and the EBacc average point score sits at 3.85. Only 26.9% of pupils entered the EBacc and achieved a grade 4 or above, and 18.3% at grade 5 or above. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% by Progress 8, but within Central Bedfordshire it outperforms the LA average by a clear margin.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, music rooms, art studios, a sports hall, playing fields, and a chapel. Sports provision is extensive, with hockey, netball, football, rugby, tennis, cricket, gymnastics, and martial arts all on offer. Clubs include art, debate, Model UN, science club, orchestra, Young Enterprise, gardening, and coding. SEND support is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families seeking a secondary that performs above the local average academically, particularly in maths, and offers strong extracurricular breadth, Priory Academy is a solid, well-subscribed option in Central Bedfordshire.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 9 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Priory Academy, Britain Street, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4JA |
| Headteacher | Ian Bailey |
| Local Authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 808 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.7% |
| School Capacity | 808 / 700 (115% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 18 Sept 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.21)
2027th of 3,141
Nationally
236th of 350
In East of England
7th of 16
In Central Bedfordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2343%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 83 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)43%
- FE college42%
- Employment5%
- Sixth form college4%
- Not sustained4%
- Apprenticeship1%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British66.0%
- White (other)9.0%
- Asian8.2%
- Mixed8.2%
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.
Half 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
8
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 Priory 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
Contact Information
Priory Academy, Britain Street, Dunstable
Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4JA
Priory Academy, Britain Street, Dunstable
Central Bedfordshire, LU5 4JA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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