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OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 137941

Harlington Upper School

Academy converter · Dunstable · LU5 6NX

Ages 13–18 · 1,156 pupils · Central Bedfordshire

School website

Ofsted

Good

Attainment 8

44.4

Overall absence

9.1%

Admissions demand

0.94 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-10-03

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.34
−20+2
Attainment 844.4
English & maths grade 5+44%
English & maths grade 4+69%
EBacc entry30%

EBacc APS: 3.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence9.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.4%
Unauthorised2.8%
Authorised absence
6.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.1%
Enrolments in measure
907

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

206

Places offered

233

1st-preference offers

206

Total preferences (any rank)
266
Preferred offers (top 3)
218
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

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 (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill85%

1,156 pupils · 1,360 places

Pupils on roll
1,156
Boys / girls
586 / 570
School capacity
1,360
Capacity fill
1,156 / 1,360 (85%)
Free school meals
13.1%
FSM pupils
110
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 13–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST
Academy trust
THE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST
Headteacher
Mrs Helen Harris

Location

Address
Goswell End Road, Harlington
Postcode
LU5 6NX
Town
Dunstable
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
District
Central Bedfordshire
Constituency
Mid Bedfordshire
Urban/rural
Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
HI - Hearing Impairment
Special classes
No Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision

Local context

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

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 13–18, in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, 1,156 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 13.1%. SEN provision includes: HI - Hearing Impairment.

Open schools in Dunstable
33
Secondary schools in Dunstable
4
Academies among open schools in Dunstable
73% (24)
Open schools in LU5
21
Secondary in LU5
3
Open schools in Central Bedfordshire LA
135
Secondary in Central Bedfordshire LA
14

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 DunstableNear LU5

  • Harlington Lower School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Dunstable · LU5 6PD · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 4–9

    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM11.5%
    • Demand1.00

    0.3 miles away

  • Westoning Lower School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bedford · MK45 5JH · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 2–9

    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM27.6%
    • Demand1.00

    1.1 miles away

  • Sundon Lower School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Luton · LU3 3PQ · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 3–9

    • Absence8.0%
    • FSM5.1%
    • Demand1.00

    2.0 miles away

  • Flitwick Lower School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bedford · MK45 1LU · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 2–9

    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM9.4%
    • Demand0.98

    2.3 miles away

  • Parkfields Middle School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Middle deemed secondary

    Dunstable · LU5 6AB · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 9–13

    • KS236%
    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM11.3%

    2.4 miles away

  • Kingsmoor Lower School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    Bedford · MK45 1EY · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 2–9

    • Absence4.2%
    • FSM14.1%
    • Demand0.95

    2.5 miles away

  • Greenfield CofE VC Lower School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Greenfield · MK45 5ES · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 2–9

    • Absence4.0%
    • FSM6.3%
    • Demand0.94

    2.6 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Helen Harris
Telephone
01525755100
Website
http://www.harlington.org

Official links