Overall Oxbridge
#1,188
11 ranked schools · -274 places vs Eng avg #914 of 1,983
Applications
134
Offers
20
Offer rate14.9%
-7.5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 22.4%
Schools in Bedford
Granted borough status in 1166 and represented in Parliament since 1265, Bedford has grown from its river-crossing origins on the Great Ouse into Bedfordshire's county town, recording an urban population of around 167,000 at the 2021 Census. De Parys is among the most sought-after pockets for school catchments on the northern side of the town, while Cardington and Great Denham draw families competing for primary places to the south and west; Kempston and Goldington fill out the suburban ring beyond. Bedford's Italian community is among England's most established. Post-war migration to the local brick industry put down deep roots that persist across the borough today. East Midlands Railway trains from Bedford Midland reach Leicester in under an hour, linking the town to the wider East Midlands network.
75
Primary
schools
15
Secondary
schools
4
All-through
schools
2
Post-16
colleges
5
Special
schools
1
Other
schools
of which18sixth forms·20faith·2nurseries104 total
Area Performance
Bedford schools rank in the top 60% of England
Across 92 primary, secondary and sixth-form schools, state and independent. The average Find My School Inspection Score is 7.36/10, -0.07 vs England.
Find My School Inspection Band
13% Elite
Distribution across all Bedford schools
EliteExcellentGoodDeveloping
Bedford vs England distribution
National Rank
Top 60%
Across all ranked Bedford schools
Top 64%Primaryavg #9,514 of 14,978
Top 51%Secondaryavg #1,975 of 3,862
Top 54%Sixth formavg #1,385 of 2,555
Primary schools: 55 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.10 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#9,514
-14 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 64% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
54%
-8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
3%
-5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.2/10
-0.10 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.3/10
Average national rank
#9,514
-14 pts vs medianmedian 7,489
top 64% of 14,978
% reaching expected RWM standardstate
54%
-8 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 62%
% reaching higher RWM standardstate
3%
-5 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 8%
Secondary schools: 19 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.7/10
+0.26 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,975
-1 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 51% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
72%
+16 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
38.9
-0.2 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.7/10
+0.26 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.4/10
Average national rank
#1,975
-1 pts vs medianmedian 1,931
top 51% of 3,862
% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A)state
72%
+16 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 56%
Attainment 8 score (out of 90)state
38.9
-0.2 vs Eng avgEng avg 39.1
Sixth form schools: 18 schools (state + independent)
LocalEngland avg
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
-0.32 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,385
-4 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 54% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
23%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Average FMS Inspection Score
7.4/10
-0.32 vs Eng avgEng avg 7.7/10
Average national rank
#1,385
-4 pts vs medianmedian 1,278
top 54% of 2,555
% A*-A at A-Level
23%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 25%
% A*-B at A-Level
49%
-2 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 50%
Oxford
#287
8 ranked schools · -34 places vs Eng avg #253 of 1,197
Applications
60
Offers
0
Offer rate0.0%
-15.1 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 15.1%
Cambridge
#1,051
11 ranked schools · -278 places vs Eng avg #773 of 1,880
Applications
74
Offers
20
Offer rate27.0%
-2.4 pts vs Eng avgEng avg 29.4%
Top 3 Primary Schools
2026
Bedford
Top 3 Secondary Schools
2026
Bedford
Top 3 Sixth Forms
2026
Bedford
Local directory
School profiles in Bedford
Browse 96 local profile links across primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms. Each profile brings together admissions context, performance data, inspection history and school details in one place.
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