Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #13 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 36% UK

Queensbury Academy

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

personMs Helen Palmer

corporate_fareANTHEM SCHOOLS TRUST

location_onDunstable, LU6 3BU

language Visit Website phone 1582601241

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,238

trending_up

Attainment 8

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GCSE Rank

#13 in Central Bedfordshire

#2,532 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Queensbury Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Dunstable, serving ages 11-19. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Queensbury Academy is an academy sponsor led in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ANTHEM SCHOOLS TRUST. The school has approximately 1,154 pupils on roll, of whom 15% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 40, placing the school #13 in Central Bedfordshire and #2,532 of 3,216 nationally. 33.50% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 12.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 20 A-level subjects. 38.3% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 11.2% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.02 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.6:1. There are 4 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 10.3 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

Grade 5+ E&M

33.50%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)12.0%

Entering EBacc28.20%

EBacc APS3.37

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.56

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24.40%

EBacc APS3.4

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.28

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc22%

EBacc APS3.63

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.47

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.5

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc18%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.18

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8%

EBacc APS3.45

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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

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships2%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

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

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)93%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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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.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*2.7%

Achieving A*–A11.2%

Achieving A*–B38.3%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate82.5%

A-level subjects offered20

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.2

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate98.30%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate94.20%

2022

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate95.5%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 October 2024

Inspection Report

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30 November 2022

Inspection Report

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13 September 2017

Inspection Report

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07 May 2014

Inspection Report

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12 February 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-10-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-09-13

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2014-05-07

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

8.7%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.7%(54 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 1,154 pupils. During this period, there were 100 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 8.7%, which is above 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)	1,154	100	8.7%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,157	139	12.0%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,197	90	7.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,195	107	9.0%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,195	89	7.4%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,216	152	12.5%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,238	149	12.0%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,252	80	6.4%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,217	61	5.0%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,223	43	3.5%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,225	29	2.4%	4.4%	2
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,169	38	3.3%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,167	5	0.4%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,179	33	2.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,132	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,132	37	3.3%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,138	47	4.1%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,034	50	4.8%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,046	43	4.1%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,060	58	5.5%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,022	34	3.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,030	38	3.7%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,035	31	3.0%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	923	65	7.0%	3.0%	4
2016/17 (Spring term)	934	74	7.9%	3.3%	5
2016/17 (Autumn term)	916	43	4.7%	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 60 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 33 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 28 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 27 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 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.

61.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

67.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree7%

agree37%

disagree31%

strongly disagree19%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree17%

agree34%

disagree29%

strongly disagree17%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree9%

agree33%

disagree28%

strongly disagree16%

don't know2%

not applicable12%

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

yes25%

no75%

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

strongly agree10%

agree23%

disagree31%

strongly disagree35%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree12%

agree38%

disagree24%

strongly disagree10%

don't know15%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree9%

agree39%

disagree31%

strongly disagree12%

don't know9%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree8%

agree34%

disagree35%

strongly disagree19%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree10%

agree62%

disagree19%

strongly disagree5%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree15%

agree69%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree7%

agree28%

disagree33%

strongly disagree19%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes39%

no61%

Top Secondary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Cedars Upper School

Good

location_on Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AE

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Vandyke Upper School

Good

location_on Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY

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Harlington Upper School

Good

location_on Dunstable, LU5 6NX

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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

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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.

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