Bedford Free School
Free schools in Bedford, Bedford.
School details
| Phase | Secondary |
|---|---|
| Type | Free schools |
| Age range | 11 to 16 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious character | None |
| Admissions policy | Non-selective |
| Sixth form | Does not have a sixth form |
| Pupils on roll | 536 (school census 15-01-2026) |
| Capacity | 500 |
| Free school meals | 29.50% |
| Trust or sponsor | ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS |
| Local authority | Bedford |
| Address | Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AD |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Website | http://www.bedfordfreeschool.co.uk/ |
| Telephone | 01234332299 |
| URN | 138228 |
Ofsted inspection
Latest graded inspection under the previous framework (Education Inspection Framework), started 15 January 2020, published 23 March 2020:
| Overall effectiveness | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding effective | Yes |
Latest ungraded inspection: 24 April 2025, outcome: Standards maintained.
Read the Ofsted reports for this school
Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall effectiveness grades in September 2024 and introduced report cards from November 2025. Older grades are shown with their dates and may not reflect the school today.
Planning for university
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Nearby schools
- Castle Newnham School (all-through school, about 1.2 km)
- Bedford Academy (secondary school, about 1.8 km)
- Goldington Academy (secondary school, about 2.1 km)
- Biddenham International School and Sports College (secondary school, about 2.1 km)
- Daubeney Academy (secondary school, about 2.4 km)
- St Thomas More Catholic School (secondary school, about 3.3 km)
- Mark Rutherford School (secondary school, about 3.7 km)
- Kempston Academy (secondary school, about 3.8 km)
Browse: Secondary schools in Bedford
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. School data: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (downloaded 11 October 2026). Inspection data: Ofsted, state-funded schools inspections and outcomes management information (as at 31 August 2026). Last updated 2026-10-11.