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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 137169

Vandyke Upper School

Academy converter · Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3DY

Ages 13–18 · 1,517 pupils · Central Bedfordshire

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

44.7

Overall absence

7.6%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2024-03-06

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+0.01
−20+2
Attainment 844.7
English & maths grade 5+43%
English & maths grade 4+63%
EBacc entry24%

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 absence7.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)20.6%
Unauthorised2.5%
Authorised absence
5.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.4%
Enrolments in measure
1,097

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill105%

1,517 pupils · 1,440 places

Pupils on roll
1,517
Boys / girls
760 / 757
School capacity
1,440
Capacity fill
1,517 / 1,440 (105%)
Free school meals
16.6%
FSM pupils
183
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: VANDYKE UPPER SCHOOL
Academy trust
VANDYKE UPPER SCHOOL
Headteacher
Mrs Leah Ferguson-Moore

Location

Address
Vandyke Road
Postcode
LU7 3DY
Town
Leighton Buzzard
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
District
Central Bedfordshire
Constituency
Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

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 Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, 1,517 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 16.6%.

Open schools in Leighton Buzzard
24
Secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard
2
Academies among open schools in Leighton Buzzard
42% (10)
Open schools in LU7
27
Secondary in LU7
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 Leighton BuzzardNear LU7

  • Cedars Upper School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 2AE · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 13–18

    • Att843.9
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence6.8%

    1.9 miles away

  • Gilbert Inglefield Academy

    Ofsted: Urgent improvement

    Academy converter · Middle deemed secondary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3FU · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 9–13

    0.1 miles away

  • Beaudesert Lower School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3DX · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 4–9

    • Absence5.8%
    • FSM9.0%

    0.4 miles away

  • The Rushmere Park Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 1EW · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 2–9

    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM23.3%

    0.5 miles away

  • Heathwood Lower School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3AU · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 2–9

    • Absence5.0%
    • FSM5.8%

    0.7 miles away

  • Dovery Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3AG · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 3–9

    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM5.7%

    0.7 miles away

  • Brooklands Middle School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Middle deemed secondary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3PF · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 9–13

    • KS241%
    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM16.4%

    0.8 miles away

  • Clipstone Brook Lower School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Leighton Buzzard · LU7 3PG · Central Bedfordshire

    Ages 3–9

    • Absence6.1%
    • FSM11.8%

    0.8 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Leah Ferguson-Moore
Telephone
01525636700
Website
http://www.vandyke.beds.sch.uk/

Official links