Putteridge High School

About Putteridge High School

Putteridge High School’s Progress 8 score of 0.23 places it well above the Luton local authority average of 0.03, meaning pupils here make significantly more academic progress than their peers across other secondary schools in the area. That gap is substantial — roughly a fifth of a grade more per subject. The school ranks 5th out of 11 state secondaries in Luton on this measure, putting it in the top half of the local league table. Nationally, it sits in the 32nd percentile, which is a solid middle-ground performance when compared with all schools in England. The Attainment 8 score of 48.3 also reflects this, showing that the average pupil leaves with the equivalent of a strong pass in five GCSEs. For context, the school’s Progress 8 banding is officially classed as “Above average,” which is a clear differentiator in a local authority where the typical school is hovering around the national average line.

Digging into the GCSE results, 53.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths, while 66.8% hit the grade 4 baseline. The English Progress 8 score of 0.35 is notably stronger than maths at 0.18, suggesting the English department is particularly effective at pushing pupils beyond expectations. The EBacc average point score sits at 4.29, with 45.2% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects and 22% achieving the full suite at grade 5 or above. In its most recent graded inspection in 2019, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good for leadership and management. The ungraded inspection in November 2024 concluded that the school had improved significantly since then, though the overall effectiveness rating remained Good. The previous inspection in 2013 also rated it Good, so the school has maintained a consistent standard over time.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 235 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 520 applications, with 268 first-preference applications and 220 offers made to first-preference families. That oversubscription ratio of 2.21 tells you demand is high. Facilities include a theatre, chapel, science labs, music rooms, and tennis courts, with sports ranging from rowing to gymnastics. The school offers a wide range of clubs including Debate, Model UN, DofE, and Young Enterprise. SEND provisions cover eight areas including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication, and Social, Emotional & Mental Health needs. Parent View responses from 241 families are overwhelmingly positive: 92% would recommend the school, and 91% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic progress in a well-regarded local comprehensive, particularly those whose children might benefit from the strong English provision and the broad extracurricular offer.

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