Bedford Free School is a secondary school in Bedford, serving pupils aged 11 to 16. The school is a free schools and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character.
Bedford Free School currently has around 525 pupils on roll, which is about 105% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 51.4% boys and 48.6% girls. Around 28.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The student population reflects a mixed community across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 6.5%. Persistent absence is recorded at 20.4%.
The student population reflects a mixed community, with indian pupils forming the largest group at around 16.4%. other white pupils make up about 15.8% , followed by white british at 13.9%
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Outstanding. This indicates exceptional performance across all areas. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 89% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (86%) , including 15% who stay in school sixth forms and 68% progressing to further education , while 0% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AD |
| Website: | http://www.bedfordfreeschool.co.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01234332299 |
| School Type: | Free schools |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Bedford |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Tom Wood |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 138228 |
Ofsted inspection date: 15/01/2020
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 500 |
| Number of Pupils: | 525 |
| Number of Boys: | 270 |
| Number of Girls: | 255 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 6.5% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 20.4% | 8.2% |
| Indian | 16.40% | 86 |
| Other White | 15.80% | 83 |
| White British | 13.90% | 73 |
| African | 11.40% | 60 |
| Bangladeshi | 10.70% | 56 |
| Other Mixed | 8.60% | 45 |
| Pakistani | 7.80% | 41 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 3.80% | 20 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 3.00% | 16 |
| Other Asian | 1.90% | 10 |
| White and Asian | 1.50% | 8 |
| Caribbean | 1.50% | 8 |
| Unclassified | 1.10% | 6 |
| White and Black African | 1.00% | 5 |
| Other Black | 0.80% | 4 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.40% | 2 |
| Irish | 0.20% | 1 |
| Chinese | 0.20% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southway Nursery School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 584 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Peter Pan Nursery School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 4out of 4 | 912 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Hawkins Road , MK42 9LS | 4out of 4 | 1,018 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh School Ampthill Road , MK42 9HE | - not rated | 543 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Priory Primary School Greyfriars , MK40 1JD | - not rated | 894 yd | Foundation school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | 3out of 4 | 950 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Cauldwell School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 950 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Drake Lower School Edward Road , MK42 9DR | - not rated | 950 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AD | 4out of 4 | 0 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| John Bunyan School Mile Road , MK42 9TR | - not rated | 1,937 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Academy Mile Road , MK42 9TR | 3out of 4 | 1,965 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | 3out of 4 | 1,979 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Castle Newnham School Polhill Avenue , MK41 9DT | - not rated | 1,979 yd | Foundation school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Bede's RC Middle School 112 Bromham Road , MK40 2QR | - not rated | 1,135 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Silver Jubilee Middle School Acacia Road , MK42 0HU | - not rated | 1,324 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsbrook Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,626 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Harrowden Middle School Oak Road , MK42 0HH | - not rated | 1,626 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Abbey Middle School Mowbray Road , MK42 9XA | - not rated | 2,110 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford College Cauldwell Street , MK42 9AH | - not rated | 135 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching Service for Excluded Pupils 2nd Floor, Riverside Suite , County Hall MK42 9AP | - not rated | 262 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford Girls' School Cardington Road , MK42 0BX | - not rated | 413 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
| E-Spired Centre of Excellence The Raleigh Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 543 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Raleigh Education Centre Raleigh and Southway Centre , Ampthill Road MK42 9HE | - not rated | 584 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bedford High School Bromham Road , MK40 2BS | - not rated | 901 yd | Other independent school | No | Girls | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.