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Queensbury Academy

Central Bedfordshire, LU6 3BUSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
2 Good · 3 Requires improvement
Oct 2024
Progress 8
-0.56
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
1 1st-choice / 1 places
Ranking
#2,691
of 3,141 nationally

About Queensbury Academy

Queensbury Academy’s headline Progress 8 score of -0.56 sits below the Central Bedfordshire local authority average of -0.46, placing it 12th out of 16 secondary schools in the area. That gap of 0.1 might not sound enormous, but it pushes the school into the bottom 50 nationally on this key measure of pupil progress from Key Stage 2 to GCSE. The picture is mixed across subjects: maths progress (-0.24) is closer to the national average, while English (-0.61) and the EBacc open element (-0.67) are notably weaker. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 39.9 and EBacc average point score of 3.4 reflect a cohort that, on the whole, achieves below the typical benchmark. For parents comparing options within Central Bedfordshire, this is a school where academic outcomes are a clear concern relative to its peers.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressLangdale Road, Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, LU6 3BU
HeadteacherHelen Palmer
Local AuthorityCentral Bedfordshire
Number of Pupils1,154
Free School Meals (FSM)14.2%
School Capacity1,154 / 1,350 (85% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 204 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 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

22 Oct 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Sixth Form Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 12 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
LibraryMusic RoomsTennis CourtsSixth Form CentreAstro TurfArt StudiosGymnasium

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

BasketballSwimmingFootballRugbyHockeyMartial ArtsRounders

Clubs & Activities

DebateGardeningYoung EnterpriseNewspaperChoirDuke of EdinburghScience ClubBook ClubOrchestraArt Club

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 Queensbury Academy

Queensbury Academy 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.