Mark Rutherford School, Bedford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 10 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Mark Rutherford excels at including and supporting all pupils, especially those with special educational needs who learn alongside their peers and flourish. The school has created a warm, respectful community where behaviour is excellent and pupils feel known as individuals. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and explain new concepts clearly, helping pupils build knowledge progressively.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional inclusion and support for pupils with SEND, who learn alongside peers and experience success
- Impressive work improving attendance for vulnerable pupils, including those with caring responsibilities
- Very good pupil behaviour with high levels of respect, politeness and rare bullying
- Strong leadership that prioritises individual pupil needs and has successfully addressed previous inspection weaknesses
- Well-designed personal development programme teaching about diversity, democracy and modern Britain
Areas for Improvement
- Post-16 students' written work lacks depth and detail needed for highest achievement levels
- Quality of pupils' written work across the school does not match the depth of their verbal responses
- Some pupils do not fully understand individual differences such as types of disability or different religions
- Post-16 published exam outcomes historically low, though current teaching shows improvement
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports teams, singing, acting, dancing, international performance opportunities, reader leaders, STEM club, arts and music activities, trips and cultural experiences
Mark Rutherford School has significantly improved its culture and ethos since the last inspection, with strong attendance and behaviour standards. Leaders have successfully created an inclusive school community where pupils feel safe and known as individuals.
At a Glance
30.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
19.8
Avg class size
57
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
1,150 pupils
1,243 capacity
93 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bedford
Admissions Demand - Bedford
Places available
2,346
Applications
2,069
Got 1st preference
84.1%
Got preferred school
96.7%
Secondary admissions across Bedford (2025/26)
Inspection History(6)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.12595%
Overall absence
28.66242%
Persistent absence
1,099
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Mark Rutherford School
Nearby Schools
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