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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 142387

Kempston Academy

Academy sponsor led · Bedford · MK42 7EB

Ages 11–18 · 773 pupils · Bedford

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

Attainment 8

37.3

Overall absence

8.8%

Admissions demand

0.86 · Often has places

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2024-11-24

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.09
−20+2
Attainment 837.3
English & maths grade 5+32%
English & maths grade 4+55%
EBacc entry59%

EBacc APS: 3.3

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence8.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)28.3%
Unauthorised3.4%
Authorised absence
5.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.4%
Enrolments in measure
859

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

0.86 · Often has places

1st preferences

108

Places offered

138

1st-preference offers

108

Total preferences (any rank)
174
Preferred offers (top 3)
126
Applications from outside LA
1
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 fill79%

773 pupils · 982 places

Pupils on roll
773
Boys / girls
405 / 368
School capacity
982
Capacity fill
773 / 982 (79%)
Free school meals
30.3%
FSM pupils
234
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST
Academy trust
CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST
Sponsor
Chiltern Learning Trust
Headteacher
Mr Paul House

Location

Address
Hill Rise, Kempston
Postcode
MK42 7EB
Town
Bedford
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Bedford
District
Bedford
Constituency
Bedford
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

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

SEN types
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Resourced provision
Resourced provision and SEN unit
Resourced places
18 on roll / 20 capacity
SEN unit places
20 on roll / 20 capacity

Local context

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

Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Bedford, Bedford, 773 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 30.3%. SEN provision includes: SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health.

Open schools in Bedford
104
Secondary schools in Bedford
14
Academies among open schools in Bedford
46% (48)
Open schools in MK42
26
Secondary in MK42
5
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 MK42

  • Daubeney Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 7PS · Bedford

    Ages 11–16

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

    1.1 miles away

  • Wootton Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Bedford · MK43 9HT · Bedford

    Ages 11–19

    • Att843.1
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence10.0%

    1.7 miles away

  • Wixams Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Free schools · Secondary

    Bedford · MK42 6BA · Bedford

    Ages 11–19

    • Att846.1
    • P80.2
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence8.5%

    2.3 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%

    2.4 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%

    2.5 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Paul House
Telephone
01234290900
Website
https://www.kempstonacademy.co.uk/

Official links