Bedford Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,480 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.8
Further education
Bedford College
- Pupils on roll
- —
- Free school meals
- —
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- —
- Ofsted
- Not covered by Ofsted school inspections
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registrations: Central Bedfordshire College (URN 130598, until 28 February 2023); Tresham College of Further and Higher Education (URN 130771, until 1 August 2017).
What the data says
Bedford College is a 16–19 provider, so there is no Year 11 cohort: this page covers where its students went after 16–18 study and what they achieved.
Among the 3,109 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 18% went to university (Bedford 24%, England 37%), and 3% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
A level grades average C-, well below the England average of B-; 4% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Law and Sociology.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Bedford and England.
The Department for Education has not published destination figures for this school (new school, small cohort or not a state-funded school).
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Bedford College | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 3,109 | 4,022 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 75% | 77% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 18% | 24% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 3% | 9% | 19% |
| Further education | 6% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 9% | 7% |
| Employment | 41% | 38% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 19% | 17% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
No published Key Stage 4 results for this school.
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Bedford College | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 9,305 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 353 | 1,110 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C- | C | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 26.46 | 30.14 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C- | C | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 4% | 11% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 113 | 32% | 23% |
| Law | 87 | 25% | 4% |
| Sociology | 74 | 21% | 13% |
| Business Studies | 53 | 15% | 13% |
| Classical Civilisation | 42 | 12% | 1% |
| History | 40 | 11% | 13% |
| Economics | 38 | 11% | 13% |
| Biology | 36 | 10% | 20% |
| English Literature | 34 | 10% | 11% |
| Mathematics | 34 | 10% | 31% |
| Philosophy | 32 | 9% | 1% |
| Politics | 31 | 9% | 6% |
| Film Studies | 31 | 9% | 2% |
| Geography | 30 | 8% | 10% |
| Media Studies | 29 | 8% | 4% |
| English Language and Literature | 24 | 7% | 2% |
| Fine Art | 20 | 6% | 3% |
| Chemistry | 19 | 5% | 17% |
| Physics | 17 | 5% | 12% |
| English Language | 15 | 4% | 4% |
| Computer Science | 15 | 4% | 5% |
| Drama | 13 | 4% | 2% |
| Ancient History | 13 | 4% | 0% |
| Further Mathematics | 10 | 3% | 5% |
| Photography | 8 | 2% | 3% |
| Spanish | 7 | 2% | 2% |
| Graphic Communication | 7 | 2% | 2% |
| Textiles | 6 | 2% | 1% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Persian | — | — | 0% |
| Physical Education | — | — | 3% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Turkish | — | — | 0% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art and Design | VRQ Level 3 | 128 | 36% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 86 | 24% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 84 | 24% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 77 | 22% | — |
| Plumbing (Building Work) | VRQ Level 2 | 58 | 16% | — |
| Animal Care (Non-Agricultural) | BTEC Technical Diploma L2 - Band F - PP-DD | 55 | 16% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Diploma L3 - Band N - PPP-D*D*D* | 45 | 13% | — |
| Childcare Skills | VRQ Level 3 | 35 | 10% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 33 | 9% | — |
| Electrical installation (Buildings / Construction) | VRQ Level 3 | 33 | 9% | — |
| Electrical installation (Buildings / Construction) | VRQ Level 2 | 29 | 8% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 25 | 7% | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | 24 | 7% | — |
| Speech and Drama | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 21 | 6% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 20 | 6% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 14 | 4% | — |
| Social Science | VRQ Level 3 | 12 | 3% | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 12 | 3% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | 12 | 3% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | 11 | 3% | — |
| Horses / Ponies Keeping | VRQ Level 3 | 10 | 3% | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma at Level 3 | 10 | 3% | — |
| Agriculture (General) | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 10 | 3% | — |
| Floristry | VRQ Level 2 | 9 | 3% | — |
| Environmental Management | VRQ Level 3 | 7 | 2% | — |
| Plumbing (Building Work) | VRQ Level 3 | 7 | 2% | — |
| Food Preparation (General) | VRQ Level 2 | — | — | — |
| Horses / Ponies Keeping | VRQ Level 2 | — | — | — |
| Animal Husbandry: Specific Animals | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Floristry | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Food Preparation (General) | VRQ Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Engineering Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Bedford
Bedford Free School
Free schools · 536 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.5
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,422 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.1
Daubeney Academy
Academy converter · 576 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 38.5
Goldington Academy
Academy converter · 958 pupils
95% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.3
Kempston Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 773 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 40.3
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.