All Saints Academy Dunstable
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 520 pupils
81% stayed in education · Attainment 8 36.9
Academy converter
Vandyke Upper School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,517of 1,440 places
- Free school meals
- 16.6%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 352
- Ofsted
- School remains Good, 24 January 2024Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Vandyke Upper School and Community College (URN 109678, until 1 August 2011).
What the data says
Of the 374 pupils who finished Year 11 at Vandyke Upper School in 2023, 51% stayed on in Vandyke Upper School’s own sixth form (Central Bedfordshire average 43%), 35% went to a further education college and 3% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 178 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 46% went to university (Central Bedfordshire 35%, England 37%), and 9% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Media Studies is unusually popular at GCSE: 34% of the year group took it, against 4% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 48.2 against 46.1 across England and 43.6 in Central Bedfordshire, with 48% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
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 Central Bedfordshire and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Vandyke Upper School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 374 | 2,928 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 93% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 87% | 88% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 51% | 43% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 1% | 2% | 13% |
| — further education college | 35% | 40% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 3% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| Employment | 3% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 5% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 1% | 2% | 3% |
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 | Vandyke Upper School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 178 | 1,931 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 88% | 80% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 46% | 35% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 9% | 14% | 19% |
| Further education | 2% | 5% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 6% | 7% |
| Employment | 34% | 33% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 7% | 15% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Vandyke Upper School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 48.2 | 43.6 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 48% | 42% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 71% | 65% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 25% | 28% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.16 | 3.75 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 16% | 18% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 34.0 | 28.9 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 50.9 | 46.7 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 4% | 8% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 351 | 100% | 89% | 19% | 20% | 75% |
| Mathematics | 351 | 100% | 88% | 21% | 22% | 78% |
| English Literature | 344 | 98% | 86% | 20% | 21% | 76% |
| Combined Science | 247 | 70% | 65% | 8% | 9% | 65% |
| History | 203 | 58% | 41% | 22% | 26% | 69% |
| Geography | 193 | 55% | 41% | 20% | 25% | 73% |
| Business Studies | 124 | 35% | 18% | 8% | 20% | 71% |
| Media Studies | 118 | 34% | 4% | 25% | 20% | 87% |
| Physics | 97 | 28% | 23% | 23% | 46% | 77% |
| Physical Education | 89 | 25% | 11% | 17% | 24% | 75% |
| Biology | 86 | 24% | 23% | 27% | 45% | 87% |
| Chemistry | 84 | 24% | 23% | 30% | 47% | 92% |
| French | 62 | 18% | 18% | 40% | 29% | 94% |
| Art and Design | 61 | 17% | 7% | 5% | 24% | 49% |
| Photography | 53 | 15% | 6% | 0% | 19% | 53% |
| 3D Design | 37 | 11% | 2% | 3% | 16% | 46% |
| Statistics | 33 | 9% | 5% | 45% | 20% | 100% |
| German | 30 | 9% | 5% | 40% | 33% | 83% |
| Computer Science | 29 | 8% | 13% | 10% | 30% | 52% |
| Drama | 29 | 8% | 7% | 14% | 27% | 83% |
| Textiles | 20 | 6% | 2% | 0% | 27% | 50% |
| Spanish | 2 | 1% | 19% | — | 27% | — |
| Italian | 2 | 1% | 0% | — | 53% | — |
| Polish | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 84% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Childcare Skills | 53 | 27% | — |
| Sports Studies | 36 | 18% | — |
| Music performance: Group | 32 | 16% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 30 | 15% | — |
| Sports / Movement Science | 20 | 10% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 15 | 8% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Vandyke Upper School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 415 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 200 | 1,152 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 34.96 | 32.68 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | B- | C+ | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 15% | 14% | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| History | 59 | 30% | 13% |
| Mathematics | 45 | 23% | 31% |
| Law | 44 | 22% | 4% |
| Media Studies | 43 | 22% | 4% |
| Psychology | 42 | 21% | 23% |
| Business Studies | 35 | 18% | 13% |
| English Literature | 30 | 15% | 11% |
| Geography | 29 | 14% | 10% |
| Biology | 24 | 12% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 24 | 12% | 17% |
| Politics | 16 | 8% | 6% |
| English Language | 15 | 8% | 4% |
| Physics | 13 | 7% | 12% |
| Art and Design | 12 | 6% | 1% |
| Photography | 11 | 6% | 3% |
| English Language and Literature | 11 | 6% | 2% |
| Physical Education | 9 | 5% | 3% |
| 3D Design | 6 | 3% | 1% |
| French | 6 | 3% | 1% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Portuguese | — | — | 0% |
| Russian | — | — | 0% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance / Accounting (General) | VRQ Level 3 | 35 | 18% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 23 | 12% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 20 | 10% | — |
| Tourism | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 20 | 10% | — |
| Biology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 14 | 7% | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 7% | — |
| Childcare Skills | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 6% | — |
| Music performance: Group | VRQ Level 3 | 11 | 6% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 9 | 5% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | 6 | 3% | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 6 | 3% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Central Bedfordshire
Cedars Upper School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,135 pupils
87% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.5
Etonbury Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,158 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 45.5
Harlington Upper School
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,156 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.8
Manshead Church of England Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,134 pupils
92% stayed in education · Attainment 8 43.0
Priory Academy
Academy converter · 830 pupils
93% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.2
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.