UKSchoolSearch
ClosedSecondaryURN 109661

Castle Newnham School

Foundation school · Bedford · MK41 9DT

Ages 11–16 · 719 pupils · Bedford

Attainment 8

40.7

Overall absence

7.7%

Admissions demand

0.94 · Balanced demand

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.01
−20+2
Attainment 840.7
English & maths grade 5+33%
English & maths grade 4+59%
EBacc entry83%

EBacc APS: 4.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)21.3%
Unauthorised3.1%
Authorised absence
4.6%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.1%
Enrolments in measure
750

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.94 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

134

Places offered

143

1st-preference offers

114

Total preferences (any rank)
344
Preferred offers (top 3)
143
Applications from outside LA
1
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (18 Jan 2024).

Capacity fill96%

719 pupils · 750 places

Pupils on roll
719
Boys / girls
358 / 361
School capacity
750
Capacity fill
719 / 750 (96%)
Free school meals
18.4%
FSM pupils
132
Gender
Mixed
School type
Foundation school

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Supported by a trust
Headteacher
Mrs Sara Levesley

Location

Address
Polhill Avenue
Postcode
MK41 9DT
Town
Bedford
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Bedford
District
Bedford
Constituency
Bedford
Urban/rural
(England/Wales) Urban city and town

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed foundation school (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Bedford, Bedford, 719 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 18.4%.

Open schools in Bedford
104
Secondary schools in Bedford
14
Academies among open schools in Bedford
46% (48)
Open schools in MK41
19
Secondary in MK41
4
Open schools in Bedford LA
86
Secondary in Bedford LA
13

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BedfordNear MK41

  • Castle Newnham School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK41 9DT · Bedford

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM23.7%

    0.0 miles away

  • Goldington Academy

    Ofsted: Strong standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK41 9BX · Bedford

    Ages 11–16

    • Att854.1
    • P80.8
    • EM5+64%
    • Absence6.4%

    0.4 miles away

  • Bedford Free School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Free schools · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 9AD · Bedford

    Ages 11–16

    • Att852.7
    • P81.1
    • EM5+54%
    • Absence6.5%

    1.1 miles away

  • Mark Rutherford School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK41 8PX · Bedford

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.4
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence9.1%

    1.2 miles away

  • St Thomas More Catholic School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK41 7UL · Bedford

    Ages 11–18

    • Att844.6
    • P80.3
    • EM5+45%
    • Absence8.4%

    1.2 miles away

  • Bedford Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 9TR · Bedford

    Ages 11–18

    • Att843.4
    • P80.4
    • EM5+35%
    • Absence7.7%

    1.9 miles away

  • Daubeney Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 7PS · Bedford

    Ages 11–16

    • Att835.6
    • P80.0
    • EM5+33%
    • Absence9.2%

    2.6 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Sara Levesley

Official links