Grange Academy, Bedford
Grange Academy is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 18 in Bedford, part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2022.
- Ofsted
- Good (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Grange Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Grange Academy are Rivertree Free School (0.3 miles); St John's School (0.5 miles, Good); Ridgeway School (1.2 miles, Good); and Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School (5.1 miles, Good).
Rivertree Free SchoolSt John's SchoolRidgeway SchoolCambian Walnut Tree Lodge School
The trust
Grange Academy is one of 4 schools run by Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust, an academy trust.
All 4 schools in Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Where pupils go next
Of the 16 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 75% to a further education college.
Who goes there
47.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (62%), Mixed (13%) and Asian (10%).
Almost every pupil at Grange Academy has an education, health and care plan (161 of 161 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Grange Academy has a SEN unit for other difficulties or disabilities, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 162 places, 162 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bedford Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Margetts Road (adjacent), 280 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Grange Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 314 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Grange Academy issued 6 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils, and 2 permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2022 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
47.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Other, Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Grange Academy
Before and after school care
Grange Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Bedford
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Grange Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Grange Academy is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 12 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
2 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
99%
Near capacity
161 pupils
162 places
1 spare place
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.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
161
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Grange Academy has a SEN unit for other difficulties or disabilities, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 162 places, 162 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
161
Total Pupils
112
Boys
49
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
9.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,826
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
15.6%
Persistent absence
154
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Grange Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Grange Academy
What are GCSE results like at Grange Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Grange Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.2. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Grange Academy's Ofsted rating?
Grange Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2022, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Grange Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Grange Academy is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Grange Academy?
Grange Academy has around 161 pupils on roll. 47% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Grange Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Grange Academy has a SEN unit for other difficulties or disabilities, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 162 places, 162 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Grange Academy?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Grange Academy in 2024/25. 15.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Grange Academy?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Grange Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
Does Grange Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Grange Academy is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Grange Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 12 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 2 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 Grange Academy?
Grange Academy is at Halsey Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)