Manshead Church of England Academy, Luton

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Manshead Church of England Academy on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' personal development and wellbeing are central to school life and shaped by the school's values and Christian ethos."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "The sixth form provides students with a well-structured academic, pastoral and personal experience that supports their learning and development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement over time is inconsistent, particularly for those who have gaps in their prior learning."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' overall attendance remains low."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of teaching and assessment is inconsistent, particularly in key stage 3."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Information about pupils' needs lacks the precision required to support consistently high‑quality adaptations in lessons."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Further work is needed to improve the consistency of practice across the school, particularly in relation to staff workload, communication and the pace at which changes have been introduced."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is taught consistently well across all key stages and subjects so that pupils gain the detailed knowledge to achieve well"; "Leaders should build on their work to improve the attendance of all groups of pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should identify pupils' needs and barriers to learning precisely so pupils consistently receive the support and adaptations they need, including those who find reading a challenge"; "Leaders should ensure that changes are prioritised and clearly communicated to all stakeholders and that staff are supported to implement them effectively".

In 2026, pupils at Manshead Church of England Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Central Bedfordshire and 47 across England.

34% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Central Bedfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 43 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.53: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 27.3, against 42.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 162 families put Manshead Church of England Academy as their first choice and 313 named it as one of their preferences, for 189 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Manshead Church of England Academy are Priory Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42); Queensbury Academy (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.4); The Chalk Hills Academy (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.8); and Challney High School for Boys (1.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 47.2).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Manshead Church of England Academy.

Manshead Church of England Academy is one of 15 schools run by Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

194 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Manshead Church of England Academy (as of April 2026): 56% would recommend the school, 50% say their child is happy there and 52% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (62%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (43%).

Of the 205 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college and 1% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 37 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 57% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 32% into work. 15% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

In 2026, 119 pupils (10.5%) received SEN support and 77 (6.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Manshead Church of England Academy has a SEN unit for autism: 12 places, 11 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Leagrave Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Southwood Road (on), 220 metres away.

In 2024/25, Manshead Church of England Academy issued 328 suspensions, 28.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Manshead Church of England Academy are St Mary's Catholic Primary School (under 0.1 miles), St. Augustine's Academy (0.5 miles), Ardley Hill Academy (0.8 miles) and Watling Lower School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.