Mark Rutherford School, Bedford

In its own words: "Mark Rutherford School opened in 1973. We serve a wide-ranging urban catchment area whilst also taking students from other parts of the town and surrounding villages. We offer a broad and varied curriculum to suit the needs of our students. We are also keen to support our local community beyond the working day of the school."

Coming up: an open evening on Monday 16 November 2026 at 9.15am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Mark Rutherford School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45 in Bedford and 47 across England.

28% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Bedford and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 41.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.05: pupils made about 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 31.1, against 44.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Biology.

For September 2026 entry, 154 families put Mark Rutherford School as their first choice and 435 named it as one of their preferences, for 186 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 Mark Rutherford School are Goldington Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52); Castle Newnham School (1.2 miles, Attainment 8 44.8); St Thomas More Catholic School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41); and Castle Newnham School (1.6 miles).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Mark Rutherford School.

120 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Mark Rutherford School (as of April 2026): 88% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 65% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (88%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (65%).

Of the 234 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 88% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 82 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 12% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (60%), Mixed (12%) and Black (7%).

Mark Rutherford School has a resourced provision for autism: 20 places, 22 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Bedford Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Somerton Close (adjacent), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Mark Rutherford School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Mark Rutherford School issued 217 suspensions, 18.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Mark Rutherford School are Putnoe Primary School (0.5 miles), The Hills Academy (0.8 miles), Hazeldene School (0.8 miles) and Brickhill Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.