Bedford Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,480 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.8
Academy converter
St Thomas More Catholic School
- Pupils on roll
- 893of 1,040 places
- Free school meals
- 22.2%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 158
- Ofsted
- Good, 4 October 2023Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: St Thomas More Catholic School (URN 109698, until 1 April 2013).
What the data says
Of the 145 pupils who finished Year 11 at St Thomas More Catholic School in 2023, 59% stayed on in St Thomas More Catholic School’s own sixth form (Bedford average 39%), 30% went to a further education college and 4% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 83 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 45% went to university (Bedford 24%, England 37%), and 13% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Religious Studies is unusually popular at GCSE: 99% of the year group took it, against 31% of pupils across England.
A level grades average C-, well below the England average of B-; 7% of students achieved AAB or better including two facilitating subjects (England 18%). The largest A level subjects are Psychology, Mathematics and Business Studies.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Bedford and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 145 | 2,196 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 97% | 93% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 90% | 88% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 59% | 39% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 1% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 30% | 47% | 37% |
| — other education | 0% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 4% | 2% | 3% |
| Employment | 2% | 2% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 2% | 4% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 83 | 4,022 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 80% | 77% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 45% | 24% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 13% | 9% | 19% |
| Further education | 2% | 6% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 9% | 7% |
| Employment | 28% | 38% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 18% | 17% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 47.0 | 44.4 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 44% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 63% | 65% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 14% | 38% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.91 | 3.89 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 20% | 24% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 37.9 | 34.6 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 49.3 | 47.3 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 40% | 26% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 157 | 99% | 89% | 9% | 20% | 71% |
| Mathematics | 157 | 99% | 88% | 20% | 22% | 69% |
| Religious Studies | 156 | 99% | 31% | 17% | 32% | 74% |
| English Literature | 153 | 97% | 86% | 12% | 21% | 73% |
| Combined Science | 114 | 72% | 65% | 5% | 9% | 58% |
| Business Studies | 81 | 51% | 18% | 14% | 20% | 63% |
| History | 44 | 28% | 41% | 25% | 26% | 61% |
| Geography | 44 | 28% | 41% | 11% | 25% | 50% |
| Physics | 40 | 25% | 23% | 55% | 46% | 100% |
| Chemistry | 40 | 25% | 23% | 63% | 47% | 100% |
| Biology | 40 | 25% | 23% | 48% | 45% | 100% |
| Italian | 38 | 24% | 0% | 24% | 53% | 61% |
| French | 32 | 20% | 18% | 38% | 29% | 66% |
| Computer Science | 28 | 18% | 13% | 25% | 30% | 89% |
| Physical Education | 25 | 16% | 11% | 12% | 24% | 72% |
| Sociology | 23 | 15% | 4% | 17% | 21% | 83% |
| Media Studies | 22 | 14% | 4% | 9% | 20% | 59% |
| Food Preparation and Nutrition | 20 | 13% | 8% | 35% | 21% | 90% |
| Design and Technology | 20 | 13% | 11% | 15% | 23% | 75% |
| Photography | 16 | 10% | 6% | 6% | 19% | 44% |
| Art and Design | 14 | 9% | 7% | 14% | 24% | 57% |
| Textiles | 12 | 8% | 2% | 50% | 27% | 92% |
| Drama | 9 | 6% | 7% | 0% | 27% | 67% |
| Polish | 8 | 5% | 1% | 88% | 84% | 88% |
| Music | 6 | 4% | 5% | 17% | 33% | 67% |
| Classical Civilisation | 1 | 1% | 1% | — | 40% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Studies | 28 | 38% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 177 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 73 | 1,110 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C- | C | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 26.93 | 30.14 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C- | C | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 7% | 11% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | 19 | 26% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 14 | 19% | 31% |
| Business Studies | 14 | 19% | 13% |
| English Language | 14 | 19% | 4% |
| Product Design | 10 | 14% | 2% |
| Religious Studies | 9 | 12% | 4% |
| Biology | 9 | 12% | 20% |
| Sociology | 9 | 12% | 13% |
| Art and Design | 8 | 11% | 1% |
| Media Studies | 7 | 10% | 4% |
| Chemistry | 6 | 8% | 17% |
| Economics | — | — | 13% |
| English Literature | — | — | 11% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Geography | — | — | 10% |
| History | — | — | 13% |
| Italian | — | — | 0% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
| Music | — | — | 0% |
| Physics | — | — | 12% |
| Polish | — | — | 0% |
| Textiles | — | — | 1% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finance / Accounting (General) | VRQ Level 3 | 14 | 19% | — |
| Sports Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 13 | 18% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 12 | 16% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 15% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | 11 | 15% | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 11% | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 8 | 11% | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Diploma L3 - Band J - PP-D*D* | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Applied Sciences | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Psychology | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | BTEC National Foundation Diploma L3 - Band H - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Tourism | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
| Computer Architecture / Systems | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Bedford
Bedford Free School
Free schools · 536 pupils
86% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.5
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Foundation school · sixth form · 1,422 pupils
91% stayed in education · Attainment 8 42.1
Daubeney Academy
Academy converter · 576 pupils
84% stayed in education · Attainment 8 38.5
Goldington Academy
Academy converter · 958 pupils
95% stayed in education · Attainment 8 54.3
Kempston Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 773 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 40.3
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.