Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #2 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 18% UK

Vandyke Upper School

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

personMr Tim Carroll

corporate_fareVANDYKE UPPER SCHOOL

location_onLeighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY

language Visit Website phone 1525636700

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

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Students

1,503

trending_up

Attainment 8

48.2

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#2 in Central Bedfordshire

#1,185 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Vandyke Upper School is a Academy converter secondary school in Leighton Buzzard, serving ages 13-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Vandyke Upper School is an academy converter in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 13-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of VANDYKE UPPER SCHOOL. The school has approximately 1,507 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.2, placing the school #2 in Central Bedfordshire and #1,185 of 3,216 nationally. 48.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 18.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 24 A-level subjects. 51.0% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 21.4% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.02 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 5.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

48.2

Grade 5+ E&M

48.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)18.0%

Entering EBacc24.70%

EBacc APS4.16

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24.00%

EBacc APS3.86

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.20

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.21

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.2

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS4.25

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.49

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS4.45

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc40%

EBacc APS4.42

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)87%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.02

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

153

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.7%

Achieving A*–A21.4%

Achieving A*–B51.0%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate96.7%

A-level subjects offered24

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.17

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

122

Retention rate95.10%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate97.00%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

123

Retention rate97.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

23 January 2024

Inspection Report

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03 May 2018

Inspection Report

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10 March 2015

Inspection Report

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13 January 2014

Inspection Report

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22 October 2013

Inspection Report

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24 April 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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17 October 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-05-03

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-03-10

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-04-24

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

5.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.7%(41 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,507 pupils. During this period, there were 75 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.0%, 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)	1,507	75	5.0%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,514	102	6.7%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,497	25	1.7%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,509	20	1.3%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,524	26	1.7%	8.2%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,490	25	1.7%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,503	28	1.9%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,510	27	1.8%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,427	13	0.9%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,436	25	1.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,457	12	0.8%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,288	15	1.2%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,293	0	0.0%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,301	13	1.0%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,099	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,099	8	0.7%	3.2%	2
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,102	18	1.6%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	923	3	0.3%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	930	5	0.5%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	928	5	0.5%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	884	8	0.9%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	902	9	1.0%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	910	12	1.3%	3.7%	2
2016/17 (Summer term)	872	19	2.2%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	882	7	0.8%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	881	5	0.6%	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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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.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 41 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 36 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 30 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 17 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 13 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 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.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

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

16.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree50%

agree41%

disagree4%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree41%

agree42%

disagree11%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree41%

agree14%

disagree2%

strongly disagree5%

don't know1%

not applicable37%

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 agree44%

agree26%

disagree4%

strongly disagree22%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree73%

agree22%

disagree1%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree68%

agree26%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree57%

agree37%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

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

strongly agree63%

agree34%

disagree2%

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

strongly agree59%

agree37%

disagree1%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree33%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes94%

no6%

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Cedars Upper School

Good

location_on Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE

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Harlington Upper School

Good

location_on Dunstable, LU5 6NX

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

location_on Shefford, SG17 5QS

emoji_events #6 in LA

Redborne Upper School and Community College

Good

location_on Bedford, MK45 2NU

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Central Bedfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

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

Harlington Upper School

Houstone School

Priory Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy

Redborne Upper School and Community College