Queensbury Academy Review 2026: A Community School on an Improvement Journey

Queensbury Academy serves the Dunstable community as a large, mixed gender secondary school and sixth form. Located on Langdale Road, it provides education for over 1,150 students aged 11 to 19. The school is currently part of the Anthem Schools Trust, having joined in 2016 to benefit from a wider network of educational support and shared resources.

Mrs Helen Palmer was appointed as Headteacher in October 2022, bringing a focus on stabilizing leadership and raising expectations across the curriculum. The school recently underwent a graded inspection in October 2024. While Ofsted no longer provides a single overall grade, the report highlighted a nuanced picture; the academy was rated Good for Personal Development and Sixth Form provision, but Requires Improvement for Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, and Leadership and Management. This marks an ongoing period of transition for the academy as it works to refine teaching quality and student consistency under the Anthem Schools Trust.

The academy occupies a sprawling site with a mix of mid twentieth century architecture and more recent additions. The atmosphere is generally purposeful, though the scale of the school means that transition times between lessons are busy. Under the current leadership, there has been a renewed emphasis on the school's core values: Co-operation, Aspiration, Respect, and Endeavour (CARE). These are reinforced through assemblies and the house system, which aims to create smaller, more manageable communities within the larger whole.

Students generally report feeling safe, and there is a visible presence of staff during social times. The academy has worked hard to improve its physical environment, including recent refreshments to communal areas and signage that reflects its aspirational goals. While the school has faced challenges with consistency in the past, the current mood is one of quiet determination. There is a clear sense that the academy is moving away from a period of flux and toward a more settled, structured environment.

The academic performance at Queensbury Academy reflects a school that is currently working to close the gap between its outcomes and England averages. In 2024, the Progress 8 score of -0.56 indicates that students, on average, make progress that is below the England average from their starting points at the end of primary school.

Queensbury Academy ranks 3,156th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). Within Dunstable, it ranks 3rd among secondary schools, reflecting a performance that sits in the national lower tier (bottom 40% of schools in England). The Attainment 8 score of 39.9 also sits below the England average of 46.2.

At the sixth form level, the picture is more competitive. The academy ranks 1,982nd in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and 3rd in Dunstable. In 2024, 32.6% of A-level entries achieved A* to B grades, while 8.2% hit the top A* or A marks. These figures are below the England averages of 47.2% for A* to B and 23.6% for A* to A, but they demonstrate that a significant cohort of students is still achieving the grades required for university entry.

The curriculum at Queensbury is broad, designed to provide students with a wide range of academic and vocational pathways. In the lower years, the focus is on a traditional suite of subjects, with a particular emphasis on literacy and numeracy to support students who arrive with lower starting points.

In 2024, the Ebacc entry rate and the percentage of pupils achieving Grade 5 or above in the Ebacc (4.9%) were below England averages, suggesting that the school currently steers students toward a more varied range of qualifications. Teachers are increasingly using shared resources from the Anthem Schools Trust to ensure consistency across departments. Recent inspection findings suggest that while the curriculum is ambitious, its implementation remains inconsistent across some subject areas.

Where Students Go Next

Despite the challenges at GCSE, the academy maintains a solid pipeline to further education and employment. Following the 2023 2024 cohort measurements, 57% of sixth form leavers progressed to university. An additional 24% moved directly into employment, which is a relatively high proportion and reflects the school's focus on employability skills.

The academy also saw 4% of students enter apprenticeships and 3% move into further education colleges. Notably, in recent measurement periods, 15% of leavers progressed to Russell Group universities and one student successfully secured a place at the University of Cambridge. This demonstrates that the highest academic ambitions remain achievable for Queensbury students. Parents can use the Saved Schools feature on FindMySchool to compare these destination trends with other local providers.

Queensbury Academy is a popular choice locally, often operating at or near its capacity of 1,350 students. Admissions are coordinated by Central Bedfordshire Council. For the measurement period, the school was oversubscribed at the primary entry route, with five applications for every offer made.

Prospective parents should note that there is no formal catchment area; instead, places are allocated based on specific criteria including siblings and then distance from the school. For the 2026 entry, the national closing date for secondary applications was 31 October 2025. Late applications are processed according to Central Bedfordshire Council's late allocation rounds. Families checking their proximity to the gates should use the FindMySchool Map Search to see how their location aligns with recent intake patterns.

Pastoral care is organized through a house system, with each student assigned to a form tutor who acts as their primary point of contact. The academy has a dedicated safeguarding team and works closely with external agencies to support students with more complex needs.

The academy has recently introduced more robust systems for tracking behaviour and attendance. While the 2024 inspection noted that behaviour and attitudes require improvement, it recognized that students generally feel safe and that the school’s personal development curriculum is a strength. The academy offers various support interventions, including small group work and mentoring, for students who require additional help.

Extracurricular life at Queensbury provides students with opportunities to develop interests outside of the standard curriculum. The school has a strong tradition in sport, utilizing its extensive playing fields for football, netball, and athletics. The gym and indoor sports hall support a range of activities during lunchtimes and after school.

The creative arts are also represented, with annual drama productions and music concerts. Specific clubs often include the STEM Club and various art workshops. The academy also participates in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, which is well regarded for building resilience and teamwork.

The school day at Queensbury Academy typically begins at 8:40am and concludes at 3:10pm. The academy is well served by local bus routes connecting Dunstable with surrounding villages and Luton. There is limited on site parking for visitors, but the school is within walking distance for a large portion of its student body living in the Queensbury and Langdale areas.

Fees & Financial Aid

As a state funded academy, Queensbury Academy does not charge tuition fees. It is free for all students aged 11 to 19. Families should be aware of standard associated costs such as the school uniform, optional educational trips, and specialized music lessons. For sixth form students, a 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is available to help those from low income households cover the costs of books, equipment, and travel. Details on eligibility and the application process for this fund can be found on the school website.

• Improvement trajectory: The school is currently rated Requires Improvement in several key areas. While the sixth form is a recognized strength, the impact of recent changes on GCSE consistency is still being realized. Families should look for the latest monitoring reports to gauge progress.
• Progress scores: With a Progress 8 score of -0.56, students have historically made less progress here than the England average. This is a key area of focus for the current teaching staff, but parents should be aware of the data when considering academic fit.
• Large scale: As a school of over 1,150 students, the environment can be boisterous. While the house system mitigates this, students who thrive in smaller settings may find the transition to a large secondary school challenging.
• Sixth form success: The sixth form is a highlight of the academy, rated Good by Ofsted. It offers a more settled environment and has a proven track record of sending students to high quality university destinations.

Queensbury Academy is a school with a clear sense of its challenges and a leadership team committed to addressing them. It offers a broad, inclusive education and remains a popular choice for Dunstable families who value its community focused ethos and the support of the Anthem Schools Trust. Best suited to local students who want a mainstream secondary experience with a wide range of options, and who will benefit from the Good rated sixth form provision.