Houstone School, based in Dunstable, provides secondary education, 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.
Houstone School currently has around 657 pupils on roll, which is about 73% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 48.7% boys and 51.3% girls. Around 27.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. Pupil backgrounds are varied across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 10.5%. Persistent absence is recorded at 32.1%.
Pupil backgrounds are varied, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 39%. other white pupils make up about 19.2%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Parkside Drive, Dunstable, LU5 5PX |
| Website: | https://www.houstoneschool.co.uk/ |
| Telephone: | 01582377771 |
| School Type: | Free schools |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Central Bedfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Ms Elizabeth English |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 149107 |
Ofsted inspection date: 20/05/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 16 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 900 |
| Number of Pupils: | 657 |
| Number of Boys: | 320 |
| Number of Girls: | 337 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 10.5% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 32.1% | 8.2% |
| White British | 39.00% | 256 |
| Other White | 19.20% | 126 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 9.70% | 64 |
| African | 7.80% | 51 |
| Other Mixed | 6.50% | 43 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 4.00% | 26 |
| Caribbean | 2.70% | 18 |
| Indian | 2.30% | 15 |
| Other Black | 1.50% | 10 |
| Pakistani | 1.40% | 9 |
| Bangladeshi | 1.40% | 9 |
| Other Asian | 1.20% | 8 |
| White and Asian | 1.10% | 7 |
| White and Black African | 0.90% | 6 |
| Unclassified | 0.60% | 4 |
| Irish | 0.50% | 3 |
| Chinese | 0.20% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.20% | 1 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastures Way Nursery School Pastures Way , LU4 0PE | 3out of 4 | 1,700 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Willow Nursery School Goldstone Crescent , LU5 4QU | 3out of 4 | 2,489 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| The Gill Blowers Nursery School 1 Mossdale Court , Teesdale LU4 9JL | 3out of 4 | 2,563 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lime Tree Primary Academy Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5QN | 3out of 4 | 508 yd | Academy sponsor led | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Hawthorn Park Community Primary Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5QN | - not rated | 552 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Thornhill Primary School Grove Road , Houghton Regis LU5 5PE | - not rated | 749 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Hammersmith Gardens , Houghton Regis LU5 5RG | - not rated | 1,131 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Hammersmith Gardens , Houghton Regis LU5 5RG | 3out of 4 | 1,131 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houstone School Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 0 yd | Free schools | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Central Bedfordshire UTC Parkside Drive , Kingsland Skills Centre LU5 5PY | - not rated | 189 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsland Community College Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PY | - not rated | 189 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Houghton Regis Academy Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 391 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Chalk Hills Academy Leagrave High St , LU4 0NE | 3out of 4 | 2,284 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandreth Middle School Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 314 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Linmear Middle School Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 314 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Kings Houghton Middle School Parkside Drive , Houghton Regis LU5 5PX | - not rated | 391 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Mill Vale School Wilbury Drive , LU5 4QP | - not rated | 2,332 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bedfordshire College Kingsway , LU5 4HG | - not rated | 3,119 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chiltern School Parkside Drive , LU5 5PX | 3out of 4 | 106 yd | Community special school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Central Bedfordshire PRU Kingsland Campus , Parkside Drive LU5 5PY | - not rated | 189 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hillcrest School Regis Education Centre , Parkside Drive LU5 5PX | - not rated | 314 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| The Academy of Central Bedfordshire Kingsland Campus , Parkside Drive LU5 5PX | 3out of 4 | 403 yd | Free schools alternative provision | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Chiltern Education Trust 12 Queen Street , LU5 5BT | - not rated | 2,009 yd | Miscellaneous | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.