Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #3 in Bedford public Top 18% UK

Wixams Academy

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

personMr Chris Stainsby

corporate_fareBEDFORD COLLEGE ACADEMIES TRUST LTD

location_onBedford, MK42 6BA

language Visit Website phone 1234608950

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

802

trending_up

Attainment 8

47.5

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GCSE Rank

#3 in Bedford

#1,292 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Wixams Academy is a Free schools secondary school in Bedford, serving ages 11-19. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Wixams Academy is a free schools in Bedford, admitting pupils aged 11-19. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BEDFORD COLLEGE ACADEMIES TRUST LTD. The school has approximately 933 pupils on roll, of whom 21% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 47.5, placing the school #3 in Bedford and #1,292 of 3,216 nationally. 52.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 16.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 21 A-level subjects. 19.8% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 7.9% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.17 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, 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 17.4:1. There are 3 teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 10.8 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

47.5

Grade 5+ E&M

52.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)16.8%

Entering EBacc51.20%

EBacc APS4.25

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.23

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc44.40%

EBacc APS4.08

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.19

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc50%

EBacc APS4.32

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

47.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.04

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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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

94%

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

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships1%

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

-0.17

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*4.0%

Achieving A*–A7.9%

Achieving A*–B19.8%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate87.8%

A-level subjects offered21

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.19

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate95.50%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 January 2025

Inspection Report

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05 March 2024

Inspection Report

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29 March 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2024-03-05

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-03-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

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

10.6%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

5.6%(52 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 933 pupils. During this period, there were 99 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 10.6%, 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)	933	99	10.6%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	940	103	11.0%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	930	126	13.5%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	926	86	9.3%	7.1%	1
2023/24 (Autumn term)	924	73	7.9%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	807	35	4.3%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	802	41	5.1%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	793	21	2.6%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	717	32	4.5%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	718	22	3.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	719	36	5.0%	4.4%	3
2020/21 (Summer term)	567	16	2.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	562	6	1.1%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	556	21	3.8%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	403	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	403	8	2.0%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	399	16	4.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	233	12	5.2%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	226	5	2.2%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	222	7	3.2%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	111	1	0.9%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	112	2	1.8%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	108	1	0.9%	3.7%	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 42 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 30 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 23 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 16 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 11 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 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.

69.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

68.0%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 agree12%

agree39%

disagree30%

strongly disagree14%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree10%

agree37%

disagree31%

strongly disagree16%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree17%

agree27%

disagree21%

strongly disagree19%

don't know3%

not applicable13%

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

yes34%

no66%

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

strongly agree17%

agree35%

disagree22%

strongly disagree21%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree20%

agree49%

disagree16%

strongly disagree8%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree44%

disagree20%

strongly disagree9%

don't know10%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree16%

agree52%

disagree21%

strongly disagree8%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree21%

agree65%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree19%

agree60%

disagree12%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree13%

agree39%

disagree21%

strongly disagree14%

don't know13%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes53%

no47%

Top Secondary Schools in Bedford

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Goldington Academy

Good

location_on Bedford, MK41 9BX

emoji_events #1 in LA

Sharnbrook Academy

Requires improvement

location_on Bedford, MK44 1JL

emoji_events #2 in LA

Bedford Free School

Outstanding

location_on Bedford, MK42 9AD

emoji_events #4 in LA

St Thomas More Catholic School

Good

location_on Bedford, MK41 7UL

emoji_events #5 in LA

Lincroft Academy

Requires improvement

location_on Bedford, MK43 7RE

emoji_events #6 in LA

Castle Newnham School

Good

location_on Bedford, MK41 9DT

emoji_events #7 in LA

View all schools in Bedford 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 Bedford

Goldington Academy

Sharnbrook Academy

Bedford Free School

St Thomas More Catholic School

Lincroft Academy

Castle Newnham School