Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #3 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 18% UK

Harlington Upper School

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

personMrs Helen Harris

corporate_fareTHE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST

location_onDunstable, LU5 6NX

language Visit Website phone 1525755100

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Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

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Students

1,209

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Attainment 8

47.8

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Central Bedfordshire

#1,241 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

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

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School Summary

Harlington Upper School is an academy converter in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 13-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE PYRAMID SCHOOLS TRUST. The school has approximately 1,198 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 47.8, placing the school #3 in Central Bedfordshire and #1,241 of 3,216 nationally. 48.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 24 A-level subjects. 42.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 19.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.08 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

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 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.0:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 5 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

47.8

Grade 5+ E&M

48.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.7%

Entering EBacc33.70%

EBacc APS4.22

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.34

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc30.00%

EBacc APS3.87

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS4.02

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.12

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc14%

EBacc APS4.03

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS4.41

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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)83%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

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

Apprenticeships6%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships3%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)91%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment2%

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

-0.08

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Students

173

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.0%

Achieving A*–A19.8%

Achieving A*–B42.5%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate94.2%

A-level subjects offered24

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.06

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

152

Retention rate89.50%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

121

Retention rate96.70%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

141

Retention rate98.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

03 October 2023

Inspection Report

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15 March 2018

Inspection Report

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25 November 2014

Inspection Report

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09 October 2013

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-10-03

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-03-15

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-10-09

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2008-09-24

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

5.3%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.2%(38 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 1,198 pupils. During this period, there were 64 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.3%, 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)	1,198	64	5.3%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,200	84	7.0%	7.8%	4
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,246	85	6.8%	7.4%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,248	80	6.4%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,242	94	7.6%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,202	38	3.2%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,209	49	4.1%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,209	25	2.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,188	35	2.9%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,193	65	5.4%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,181	52	4.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,193	41	3.4%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,194	9	0.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,198	57	4.8%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,183	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,183	60	5.1%	3.2%	3
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,174	46	3.9%	4.2%	1
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,156	19	1.6%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,158	49	4.2%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,160	18	1.6%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,149	5	0.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,160	41	3.5%	3.0%	4
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,162	48	4.1%	3.7%	4
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,230	30	2.4%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,240	46	3.7%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,254	37	3.0%	3.1%	1

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 54 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 30 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 20 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 19 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 12 pupils

Hearing Impairment 7 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

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Harlington Upper School

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)

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Cedars Upper School

Vandyke Upper School

Houstone School

Priory Academy

Samuel Whitbread Academy

Redborne Upper School and Community College