Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy, Dunstable

From the headteacher's welcome: "Thomas Whitehead Academy is a Church of England school, and is part of the Diocese of St Albans Multi Academy Trust. Thomas Whitehead is a one form entry school that has a nursery and pre-school on site."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 66% in Central Bedfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 50% in reading and 33% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy as their first choice and 46 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 primary schools to Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy are Houghton Regis Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 55% reading, 45% maths); Tithe Farm Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 58% reading, 54% maths); St Vincent's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 93% reading, 80% maths); and Lime Tree Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 77% reading, 60% maths).

Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

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

24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (92%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (75%).

36.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 39.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (46%), Mixed (13%) and Black (12%).

In 2026, 28 pupils (13.6%) received SEN support and 18 (8.7%) 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.

Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

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

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bedford Square, 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 214 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, Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy issued 2 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy are All Saints Academy Dunstable (0.8 miles), Houstone School (1 mile) and Priory Academy (1.5 miles).