Kempston Academy
Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 11–18 · Bedford
Kempston Academy is a secondary school in Bedford for ages 11–18 (academy sponsor led). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Standards maintained, from the inspection on 16 October 2024. Bedford has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2024 to 2026 entry.
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Key facts
- Address
- Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7EB
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–18
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Bedford
- Pupils on roll
- 773 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 30.3% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 16
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Standards maintained Inspected 16 October 2024
Strengths
- “There is an increasing sense of pride across the school community.”
- “The school’s ‘GROW’ principles, including the focus on excellence and strong relationships, raise pupils’ aspirations.”
- “Standards are getting better across most subjects.”
To improve
- “This, coupled with previous curriculum weaknesses, resulted in Year 11 pupils’ attainment in 2023 examinations falling below the national average.”
- “Occasionally, pupils have gaps in their knowledge that are not addressed quickly, so they do not learn as much as they could.”
- “This is because some activities are not consistently matched well to the precise content that pupils need to secure, including for a few pupils with SEND.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 25 November 2024 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 36% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 40.3 | 46 |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 105 first-preference applications, 118 offers in total, 105 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Last distance offered and catchment
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Last distance offered for Year 7 2024 to 2026, as Bedford published it, drawn on the map
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Earlier years of exam results
- Where pupils go after they leave
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Bedford.
- Daubeney Academy 1.1 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Wootton Academy 1.7 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Biddenham International School and Sports College 1.9 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Wixams Academy 2.3 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Bedford Free School 2.4 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Bedford Academy 2.5 mi Good Last distance published
- Goldington Academy 3.6 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- St Thomas More Catholic School 4.1 mi Good Last distance published