Bedford AcademyWixams Academy
Inspection, results, pupils and attendance side by side in Bedford.
Summary of the comparison
Bedford Academy and Wixams Academy are secondary schools in Bedford.
Bedford Academy scores 61 out of 100 (grade C, average) and Wixams Academy scores 56 out of 100 (grade C, average). Bedford Academy is ahead on our composite score.
Bedford Academy was judged Good and Wixams Academy was judged the expected standard.
On GCSE Attainment 8, the latest published figures are 44.4 for Bedford Academy and 43.9 for Wixams Academy.
GCSE Attainment 8 has risen at Bedford Academy (40.5 in 2021-22, 44.4 in 2025-26) and has fallen at Wixams Academy (47.8 in 2021-22, 43.9 in 2025-26).
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | BedfordBedford Academy | BedfordWixams Academy | England average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Our score | C61/100Stronger figure | C56/100 | |
| Local ranking | 6th of 14 in Bedford Stronger figure | 9th of 14 in Bedford | |
| Inspection | Ofsted: Good | Ofsted: Expected | |
| School type | Academy sponsor led | Free schools | |
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary | |
| Age range | 11-18 | 11-19 | |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed | |
| Pupils on roll | 1,480 | 903 | |
| Capacity | 1,500 | 1,750 | |
| Location | Bedford, MK42 9TR | Bedford, MK42 6BA | |
| GCSE results | |||
| Attainment 8 | 44.4 Stronger figure | 43.9 | 46.2 |
| Grade 5+ in English & maths | 35.7% | 44.2% Stronger figure | 46.3% |
| Grade 4+ in English & maths | 60.7% | 64.9% Stronger figure | 64.8% |
| Cohort | 224 | 154 | |
| A-level results | |||
| A-level entries | 48 | 39 | |
| A-level average points | 33.4 Stronger figure | 25.1 | 35.0 |
| A-level average grade | C+ | C- | |
| Best 3 A-levels points | 33.5 Stronger figure | 26.0 | 35.8 |
| AAB+ incl. facilitating subjects | 10.0% Stronger figure | 4.0% | 17.5% |
| Pupils | |||
| Pupils in the census | 1,375 | 933 | |
| Free school meals (ever 6) | 37.8% | 21.1% | |
| English as an additional language | 39.9% | 17.1% | |
| SEN support | 11.6% | 10.5% | |
| SEN with an EHC plan | 3.9% | 3.3% | |
| Attendance | |||
| Overall absence | 8.6% Stronger figure | 9.9% | 6.2% |
| Persistent absence | 25.7% Stronger figure | 27.9% | 15.8% |
marks the stronger figure on measures with a clear direction. Rows describing a school's intake, such as free school meals, English as an additional language and SEN, carry no marker: they describe who a school serves, not how well it serves them.
Historical trends
Each solid line is one school; the dashed line is the national average.
GCSE Attainment 8
GCSE Progress 8
A-level average points
Overall absence
Free school meal eligibility (ever 6)
Pupils on roll
Ethnicity over time
One panel per school: the largest groups across this comparison, one colour per group, on a shared scale.
Bedford Academy
Wixams Academy
Full profiles: Bedford Academy · Wixams Academy