The Rushmere Park Academy, Leighton Buzzard

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades The Rushmere Park Academy on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children make a very positive start in the early years."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Personal development and wellbeing are embedded in daily school life."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils usually make expected progress from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders place attendance at the centre of school improvement."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have set a clear and ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders generally promote an inclusive culture."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear view of what the school does well and what still needs to improve."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should work on recent gains to sustain and improve pupil attendance, reducing persistent absence rates, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils"; "Leaders should ensure consistent implementation of the curriculum and teaching so that pupils apply and build key skills ready for the next stage of education".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are proud and privileged to work with a dedicated team of talented teachers and support staff. Together, we create a vibrant and inclusive learning community where every child is supported, challenged, and inspired to thrive. Our school is underpinned by our core values of integrity, ambition, and excellence, alongside our three school rules: responsibility, respect, and resilience."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics, dance, gardening and book club.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

For September 2026 entry, 26 families put The Rushmere Park Academy as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to The Rushmere Park Academy are Clipstone Brook Lower School (0.5 miles, Good); The Mary Bassett Lower School (0.5 miles, Good); Pulford CofE VA Lower School (0.7 miles, Good); and Dovery Academy (0.7 miles).

The Rushmere Park Academy is one of 10 schools run by Advantage Schools, an academy trust.

In 2026, 21 pupils (10.1%) received SEN support and 14 (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 speech, language and communication needs.

The Rushmere Park Academy has a resourced provision for autism: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Leighton Buzzard Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is East Street (ne-bound), 160 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 183 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 Central Bedfordshire (47), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Rushmere Park Academy issued 30 suspensions, 14.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to The Rushmere Park Academy are Gilbert Inglefield Academy (0.4 miles), Vandyke Upper School (0.5 miles), Brooklands Middle School (0.6 miles) and Leighton Middle School (0.6 miles).