Bedford Girls' School, Bedford
Bedford Girls' School is an independent school for girls aged 7 to 18 in Bedford. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bedford Girls' School in detail
Bedford Girls' School in its own words
In its own words: "I am incredibly proud to be the Headmistress of one of the region's largest independent girls' schools. We are experts in girls' education; a school where girls truly soar. With a heritage of over 140 years, we offer unrivalled expertise of understanding how girls learn and grow; every decision is made with girls at its heart."
Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 5 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Bedford
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bedford Girls' School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Bedford Girls' School are Bedford School (0.6 miles); Polam School (0.9 miles); KWS School (1.1 miles, Good); and Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School (1.2 miles).
Bedford SchoolPolam SchoolKWS SchoolPilgrims Pre-Preparatory School
Where pupils go next
Of the 103 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 75% went on to university or other higher education and 12% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 174 pupils (20.6%) received SEN support and 4 (0.5%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 540 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bedford Girls School (opposite), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 932 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
13 February 2024
Short Visit
22 April 2022
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
14 January 2020
Regulatory Compliance
22 March 2017
Integrated
17 March 2015
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£14,970 to £20,656
depending on year group
| Junior School annual (termly) including VAT | £14,970 a year |
| Senior School annual (termly) including VAT | £20,656 a year |
| Sixth Form annual (termly) including VAT | £20,656 a year |
Including VAT. From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bedford Girls' School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from Bedford Girls' School
Play in a Day - News
2 Oct 2026
Double Medal Win - News
2 Oct 2026
Gold STEMM Award for Zaynab - News
25 Sep 2026
From Bedford Girls' School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Bedford Girls' School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Bedford Girls' School.
- Football Fun Camp: Bedford College500m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 93
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 19
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 93 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 19 serious and 74 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
21 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
843 pupils
1,202 places
359 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,556
Applications
2,095
Got 1st preference
90.6%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All secondary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
174
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
21.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
843
Total Pupils
0
Boys
843
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Bedford Girls' School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bedford Girls' School
What are GCSE results like at Bedford Girls' School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Bedford Girls' School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Bedford Girls' School last inspected?
Bedford Girls' School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in February 2024.
How many pupils go to Bedford Girls' School?
Bedford Girls' School has around 843 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Bedford Girls' School?
Bedford Girls' School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does Bedford Girls' School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Bedford Girls' School: Football Fun Camp: Bedford College (500m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Bedford Girls' School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 93 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 19 serious and 74 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 21 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bedford Girls' School?
Bedford Girls' School is at Cardington Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0BX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)