Arnold Academy Catchment Area
Arnold Academy is an academy converter middle deemed secondary school in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire , serving pupils aged 9-13, with 699 pupils, and a capacity of 720 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
9-13
Age range
699
Pupils
720
Capacity
97%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
Arnold Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Arnold Academy?
The catchment area for Arnold Academy is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this middle deemed secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Arnold Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Central Bedfordshire. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Get an alert if Arnold Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Central Bedfordshire before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Central Bedfordshire catchment area documents →Arnold Academy: 720 places, 97% filled: nearing capacity
Arnold Academy has a published admission number of 720 places. 699 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 97%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 720, Central Bedfordshire's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 11.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Bedford.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Central Bedfordshire publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Central Bedfordshire school admissions →
Arnold Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay, Bedford, MK45 4JZ
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Middle deemed secondary
- Age range
- 9-13 years
- Free school meals
- 11.7% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 136829
Other Middle deemed secondary Schools in Bedford
If Arnold Academy is oversubscribed, these middle deemed secondary schools in Bedford are the next closest alternatives.
Nearest middle deemed secondary schools by distance
These are the middle deemed secondary schools closest to Arnold Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Arnold Academy
What is the catchment area for Arnold Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Arnold Academy is the geographic zone Central Bedfordshire uses to prioritise admissions when this middle deemed secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Central Bedfordshire publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Arnold Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Arnold Academy is operating close to its capacity of 720 places (97% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Arnold Academy? ▾
Admission to Arnold Academy is managed by Central Bedfordshire. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Arnold Academy cover? ▾
Arnold Academy is a middle deemed secondary school in Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, serving pupils aged 9-13. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Arnold Academy? ▾
Arnold Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.