Bedford Academy Catchment Area
Bedford Academy is an academy sponsor led secondary school in Bedford , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1375 pupils, and a capacity of 1500 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.
11-18
Age range
1,375
Pupils
1,500
Capacity
92%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2023
Bedford Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Bedford Academy?
The catchment area for Bedford Academy is the geographic zone Bedford uses to prioritise admissions when this 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. Bedford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, Bedford Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bedford. 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 Bedford Academy goes oversubscribed for 2027 →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bedford before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bedford catchment area documents →Bedford Academy: 1500 places, 92% filled: nearing capacity
Bedford Academy has a published admission number of 1500 places. 1375 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 92%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1500, Bedford'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. 37.2% of pupils at Bedford Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Bedford.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bedford 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 Bedford school admissions →
Bedford Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TR
- Local authority
- Bedford
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 37.2% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 136085
Other Secondary Schools in Bedford
If Bedford Academy is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Bedford are the next closest alternatives.
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Redborne Upper School and Community College Catchment Area
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Wootton Upper School Catchment Area
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Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Bedford 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Bedford Academy
What is the catchment area for Bedford Academy? ▾
The catchment area for Bedford Academy is the geographic zone Bedford uses to prioritise admissions when this 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. Bedford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Bedford Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Bedford Academy is operating close to its capacity of 1500 places (92% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.
What is the admissions policy for Bedford Academy? ▾
Admission to Bedford Academy is managed by Bedford. 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 Bedford Academy cover? ▾
Bedford Academy is a secondary school in Bedford, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Bedford Academy? ▾
Bedford Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.