Stratton School, Biggleswade

In its own words: "Stratton School is a Y7 to Y13 school with a roll of around 1000 students, including Sixth Form. Our unequivocal responsibility is to ensure that we support the needs of all students and it follows that we accommodate students from across the full spectrum of ability and that we are truly inclusive. Stratton School is unique."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed to the role of Principal in September 2022. My journey to Stratton has taken me to many exciting schools and differing roles over my 20 years in education. I am an English teacher at heart but have also enjoyed opportunities to teach a variety of subjects over the years."

In 2026, pupils at Stratton School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Central Bedfordshire and 47 across England.

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Central Bedfordshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 38.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.17: pupils made 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 34.3, against 43.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 133 families put Stratton School as their first choice and 224 named it as one of their preferences, for 131 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Stratton School are Edward Peake CofE VC School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement); Sandy Secondary School (3.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 41.4); Henlow Church of England Academy (4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41); and Samuel Whitbread Academy (4.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.7).

Stratton School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Stratton School is one of 36 schools run by Meridian Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.9 in 2024/25.

117 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Stratton School (as of September 2025): 79% would recommend the school, 76% say their child is happy there and 68% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (85%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (67%).

Of the 199 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 84% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 48% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 118 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 43% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 39% into work. 8% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

5.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 68 pupils (7.4%) received SEN support and 49 (5.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Stratton School has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Biggleswade Rail Station, about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stratton Upper School (outside), 80 metres away.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 131 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Stratton School issued 313 suspensions, 31.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Stratton School are Lawnside Academy (0.3 miles), Biggleswade Academy (0.5 miles) and St Andrew's CofE VC Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.