Ofsted: Good

Arnold Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personHeadteacher Peter Roberts

corporate_fareTHE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST

location_onBedford, MK45 4JZ

language Visit Website phone 1582616400

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

686

school

Expected Standard

60%

cake

Age Range

9-13

summarize

Arnold Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Bedford, serving ages 9-13. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Arnold Academy is an academy converter in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 9-13. It is part of THE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST. The school has approximately 699 pupils on roll, of whom 12% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #17 of 53 primaries in Central Bedfordshire and #8,484 of 15,231 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 50%

Reading80% LA 68%

Writing72% LA 62%

Maths74% LA 62%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading73% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing60% LA 61% · Eng 72%

Maths71% LA 62% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

31%

LA 48%England 60%

Reading71% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing33% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths79% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.9

Read

LA -1.4

-1.9 to 0.0

-7.1

Write

LA -2.4

-8.0 to -6.2

0.5

Maths

LA -2.0

-0.3 to 1.4

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

77%

LA 57%England 65%

Reading87% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing86% LA 71% · Eng 78%

Maths88% LA 69% · Eng 79%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.2

Read

LA -2.0

-1.2 to 0.7

-0.4

Write

LA -2.1

-1.2 to 0.4

0.0

Maths

LA -2.3

-0.8 to 0.8

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

73%

LA 55%

Reading85% LA 66%

Writing84% LA 70%

Maths82% LA 65%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.7

Read

LA -2.2

-1.7 to 0.3

-2

Write

LA -1.9

-2.9 to -1.1

-1

Maths

LA -2.1

-1.9 to -0.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

23 May 2023

Inspection Report

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12 July 2017

Inspection Report

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17 December 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-05-23

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-07-12

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-12-17

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-07-07

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.7%(5 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 699 pupils. During this period, there were 5 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.7%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	699	5	0.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	697	4	0.6%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	691	7	1.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	694	7	1.0%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	686	4	0.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	684	2	0.3%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	686	2	0.3%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	684	2	0.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	712	4	0.6%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	716	4	0.6%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	715	6	0.8%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	715	4	0.6%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	717	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	718	2	0.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	688	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	688	2	0.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	688	1	0.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	661	0	0.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	658	0	0.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	654	1	0.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	623	1	0.2%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	622	4	0.6%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	620	2	0.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	596	2	0.3%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	595	1	0.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	597	0	0.0%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 53 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 31 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 25 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Physical Disability 8 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

26.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree31%

agree52%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree11%

agree48%

disagree27%

strongly disagree9%

don't know5%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree40%

agree30%

disagree10%

strongly disagree7%

not applicable14%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes16%

no84%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree36%

agree9%

disagree18%

strongly disagree23%

dont know14%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree31%

agree49%

disagree10%

strongly disagree3%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree46%

disagree11%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree25%

agree41%

disagree24%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree42%

agree54%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree49%

agree47%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree44%

disagree9%

strongly disagree4%

don't know10%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes87%

no13%

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Cedars Upper School

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location_on Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY

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Harlington Upper School

Good

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emoji_events #3 in LA

Houstone School

N/A

location_on Dunstable, LU5 5PX

emoji_events #4 in LA

Priory Academy

Good

location_on Dunstable, LU5 4JA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Samuel Whitbread Academy

Good

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View all schools in Central Bedfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Cedars Upper School

Vandyke Upper School

Harlington Upper School

Houstone School

Priory Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy