Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #1 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 16% UK

Cedars Upper School

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

personMr Mark Gibbs

corporate_fareCHILTERN LEARNING TRUST

location_onLeighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE

language Visit Website phone 1525219300

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,007

trending_up

Attainment 8

48.5

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GCSE Rank

#1 in Central Bedfordshire

#1,144 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Cedars Upper School is a Academy converter secondary school in Leighton Buzzard, serving ages 13-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Cedars 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 CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 1,055 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.5, placing the school #1 in Central Bedfordshire and #1,144 of 3,216 nationally. 49.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 18.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 23 A-level subjects. 52.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 23.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.11 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

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.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 26.3:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 5.8 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

48.5

Grade 5+ E&M

49.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)18.6%

Entering EBacc39.50%

EBacc APS4.32

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.11

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44.10%

EBacc APS3.93

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc35%

EBacc APS4.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc32%

EBacc APS4.58

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS4.09

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc41%

EBacc APS3.99

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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

90%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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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

+0.11

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.7%

Achieving A*–A23.0%

Achieving A*–B52.8%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate98.9%

A-level subjects offered23

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.07

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate96.60%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

147

Retention rate94.60%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

112

Retention rate96.4%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 April 2023

Inspection Report

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05 October 2021

Inspection Report

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03 October 2017

Inspection Report

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17 September 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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23 November 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-04-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-10-03

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-09-17

None Legacy

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

5.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.3%(35 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

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 1,055 pupils. During this period, there were 61 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.8%, 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)	1,055	61	5.8%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,048	61	5.8%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	940	50	5.3%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	948	54	5.7%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	943	56	5.9%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,004	43	4.3%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,007	73	7.2%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,001	55	5.5%	5.9%	3
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,033	43	4.2%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,033	44	4.3%	4.9%	2
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,033	26	2.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,014	25	2.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,019	2	0.2%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,019	18	1.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,007	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,007	13	1.3%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,007	23	2.3%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,102	13	1.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,105	24	2.2%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,107	24	2.2%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,133	11	1.0%	3.4%	2
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,140	13	1.1%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,153	22	1.9%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,194	21	1.8%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,212	23	1.9%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,220	25	2.0%	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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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 30 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 29 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 14 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Physical Disability 7 pupils

Hearing Impairment 3 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

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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.

87.0%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.

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree53%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know6%

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

strongly agree24%

agree43%

disagree19%

strongly disagree8%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree34%

agree28%

disagree12%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

not applicable17%

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

yes19%

no81%

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

strongly agree39%

agree24%

disagree10%

strongly disagree22%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree42%

agree44%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree38%

agree49%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree32%

agree52%

disagree9%

strongly disagree5%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree46%

agree44%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree37%

agree50%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know10%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree28%

agree45%

disagree12%

strongly disagree6%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Vandyke Upper School

Good

location_on Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY

emoji_events #2 in LA

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

Vandyke Upper School

Harlington Upper School

Houstone School

Priory Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy

Redborne Upper School and Community College