Vandyke Upper School, Leighton Buzzard

In its own words: "Our intent is to help students become world ready. All students are empowered to be aspirational in their chosen pathways - to follow their passions and interests, and to work towards a career which will facilitate fulfilment and growth."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Vandyke Sixth Form is a place where students can aspire and are supported to achieve their full potential. The success of the Sixth Form is based on a number of important ingredients including high expectations, excellent teaching, high quality support and guidance and rigorous monitoring."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, debating and Duke of Edinburgh.

On phones, the school says: "Students are only permitted to bring mobile phones, smartwatches and listening devices (such as AirPods) onto site if they are stored securely in a lockable phone pouch for the school day."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 19 November 2026 at 6pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Vandyke Upper School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.7 in Central Bedfordshire and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Central Bedfordshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 48.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.01: 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 34.5, against 50.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Art and Design.

For September 2025 entry, 395 families put Vandyke Upper School as their first choice and 533 named it as one of their preferences, for 343 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 52 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Vandyke Upper School are Gilbert Inglefield Academy (0.1 miles, Good); Gilbert Inglefield Academy (0.1 miles); Brooklands Middle School (0.8 miles, Good); and Leighton Middle School (1.2 miles, Good).

Of the 362 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 40% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 209 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 48% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 29% into work. 15% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

14.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Mixed (7%).

The nearest railway station is Leighton Buzzard Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Vandyke Upper School (in), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Vandyke Upper School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 106 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Vandyke Upper School issued 223 suspensions, 14.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 7 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Vandyke Upper School are Beaudesert Lower School (0.4 miles), The Rushmere Park Academy (0.5 miles), Heathwood Lower School (0.7 miles) and Dovery Academy (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.