Stratton School Review 2026: A growing 11 to 18 school with a clear improvement story

Seventy five years after its first intake, Stratton School is in a period of visible change. The school is now a full 11 to 18 secondary, with the Matt King Sixth Form and a recent shift in the local system shaping how cohorts arrive and move through the years. The latest inspection outcomes indicate consistent practice across key areas, while performance data shows a mixed picture, with GCSE measures sitting below England average and sixth form outcomes closer to the middle of the pack. For families weighing options in and around Biggleswade, the question is less about intent and more about momentum, and whether the recent structural changes translate into sustained outcomes over time.

Stratton’s identity is strongly tied to a house structure, with four main houses for Years 7 to 11 and a dedicated sixth form house. The house framework is designed to keep support close to students day to day, with tutor time and pastoral oversight anchored through the house teams. In practical terms, this helps a larger secondary feel more navigable for students who prefer clear routines and familiar adults.

The school’s stated values are framed as a simple, memorable set of expectations, and the rewards system is built around these. Recognition is structured, moving from everyday praise through commendations and termly celebration events, including Honour Roll Breakfasts and house celebration assemblies. The “Bee” awards are a concrete example of how the school tries to make effort visible over time, rather than only celebrating end results.

Behaviour and relationships are also described through a restorative lens. Peer Mentors are trained to support restorative conversations, and this sits alongside a wider conduct approach that emphasises protecting learning time and ensuring students feel safe. For parents, the practical implication is a behaviour model that aims to resolve incidents through conversation and accountability, while still keeping clear boundaries around disruption.

At GCSE, the school’s outcomes sit below England average in the FindMySchool picture. Ranked 3,213th in England and 2nd in Biggleswade for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), Stratton falls into the below England average band. The Progress 8 score of -0.17 indicates students make slightly less progress than similar students nationally across eight subjects. Attainment 8 is 38.6, and EBacc average point score is 3.38, with 6 recorded for the share achieving grades 5 or above in the EBacc measure.

Sixth form outcomes are stronger relative to the GCSE picture. Ranked 1,571st in England and 1st in Biggleswade for A level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), Stratton sits in line with the middle 35% of sixth forms in England (25th to 60th percentile). Around 5.4% of A level entries achieved A*, and about 40.4% achieved A* to B. Compared with the England average of about 47.2% at A* to B, this suggests the sixth form is competitive but not yet consistently outperforming England norms.

The overall pattern matters for families choosing at Year 7 and thinking ahead. The sixth form has breadth and clear entry standards, but the GCSE phase remains the area where sustained improvement has the biggest impact on later options.

Leadership emphasises a broadly academic curriculum, with languages, humanities, and strong arts and technology alongside the core. The recent direction of travel includes increasing subject specialist delivery, which is particularly important for schools navigating staffing and growth at the same time as raising outcomes.

In the sixth form, the published course structure points to a wide menu, including Computing and Commerce options such as Business, Computer Science, and Economics, alongside creative arts routes. The implication is flexibility for students who are aiming for university style academic pathways, as well as those who want a clearer applied direction.

A further distinctive element is the way the school frames learning beyond lessons. It highlights trips, visits, and speakers as part of “learning outside the classroom”, which can be meaningful for students who learn best when classroom knowledge is applied in real contexts, and for families looking for a broader educational experience that supports aspiration and confidence.

At sixth form level, the destination picture is mixed and vocationally weighted. For the 2023 to 2024 cohort (92 students), 35% progressed to university, 38% moved into employment, and 8% started apprenticeships. For families, this is a useful signal that the sixth form supports multiple pathways rather than assuming a single university route for all.

The school also has a small but present Oxbridge pipeline in the measured period. Four students applied, one received an offer, and one accepted a place, recorded under Cambridge. This is not a volume pathway, but it does indicate that high attaining students are supported through competitive applications when the fit is right.

Year 7 admissions are coordinated through Central Bedfordshire Council. For September 2026 entry, the on time deadline was 31 October 2025, with national offer day on 2 March 2026. Late applications submitted between 1 November 2025 and 16 March 2026 were scheduled for the late allocation round, with a late allocation offer day listed as 24 April 2026.

The school also signposts Year 7 admissions information directly, including reminders around the council deadline. In practice, families should treat the council timetable as the controlling schedule and use the school’s information for orientation, open events, and policy detail.

Open events appear to follow the standard autumn pattern. For example, a Year 7 open evening was scheduled in mid October for the 2026 intake. For future cycles, families can reasonably expect open evenings around September to October, but the exact dates should be checked on the school’s website each year.

For sixth form, entry requirements are explicit. Students need at least five grade 4 to 9 passes for an all A level programme with an average point score threshold, and higher grades for mixed programmes that combine A levels with vocational routes. Students without grade 4 in English and maths are expected to continue studying those subjects until they meet the standard.

Because catchment and last distance data is not published here, families who are prioritising proximity should use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand realistic travel distances and to cross check current council admissions rules before relying on a place.

Pastoral support is designed around vertical tutoring and house teams, with the house structure intended to keep oversight consistent as students move through the year groups. This matters in a school of this size because it reduces the risk that students become anonymous, particularly at transition points such as Year 7 entry and GCSE option choices.

The conduct model emphasises safe learning spaces and clear expectations, backed by a published behaviour framework and the restorative practices described earlier. The Peer Mentor training element is a practical detail that suggests the school is investing in student leadership as part of behaviour culture, not only relying on sanctions.

SEND support includes a named pathway through house teams as the first point of contact, with escalation through the SENDCo as needed. In addition, the school has developed a specialist provision linked to autism, intended to increase local access to tailored support while still enabling integration with mainstream schooling where appropriate.

Facilities are a clear strength on paper, and they align well with a curriculum that includes creative, technical, and performance routes. A Performance Hall with a 250 seat theatre set up, a Drama Studio, music rehearsal rooms, a sound recording studio, a full media suite, and a dedicated technology suite that includes engineering and electronics options give tangible shape to arts and vocational study. A science block with 12 labs supports the core academic side, and a 3G multi use games area adds capacity for winter sport and training.

The best extracurricular provision is always the kind that creates regular habits rather than occasional highlights. Stratton’s timetable explicitly builds in an additional enrichment hour, described as Period 6, which matters because it protects time for clubs, enrichment, and broader development even when GCSE and A level pressures rise.

For students who want structured leadership and challenge outside lessons, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is an established option. For those drawn to international and service oriented experiences, the school has promoted a Camps International trip linked to Kenya for 2026. These are the kinds of opportunities that can help students build confidence and independence, and they often appeal to families who want school to develop character as well as grades.

In the sixth form, the Norwich Football Academy is a distinctive pathway, designed to combine sixth form study with daily training and a competitive games programme. For the right student, this offers a structured way to keep sport central without sacrificing post 16 qualifications.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the usual associated costs, such as uniform, equipment, trips, and optional activities.

The published school day starts with registration at 8:40 and ends at 15:10, with a two week timetable cycle. Break and lunch arrangements vary by year group to manage site access, and the school describes a 32.5 hour week plus an additional enrichment hour each day.

On transport, the school signposts families to apply for school transport support through the relevant local authority where eligible, and it notes that arrangements can differ depending on which council area a family lives in.

• GCSE outcomes remain the main improvement priority. The Progress 8 score of -0.17 and the below England average ranking band suggest that, despite positive indicators in other areas, the GCSE phase is where impact matters most for future options.

• Recent structural change can create uneven experiences year to year. The move to a full 11 to 18 secondary and local system transition affects cohort mix, staffing, and routines. For some families this signals momentum; others may want reassurance on consistency.

• Sixth form ambition is supported, but entry standards are clear. The published minimum requirements set a defined bar. This suits students who thrive with explicit expectations, but it can be a stretch for those whose GCSE profile is borderline.

• Specialist autism provision is expanding, which is positive, but it is still developing. The autism centre work suggests serious investment in inclusion, yet families should ask detailed questions about how support works day to day and how mainstream integration is managed.

Stratton School offers a clear, structured approach to pastoral support, visible investment in facilities, and a sixth form with breadth and defined entry standards. It will suit families who value a school that is building capacity and sharpening routines, and students who respond well to clear expectations, house identity, and varied post 16 pathways. The key decision point is confidence in sustained GCSE improvement, as that is the lever that most directly changes outcomes for the largest number of students.