Wenlock CofE Academy, Luton

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Wenlock CofE Academy on 6 areas: 2 strong standard, 3 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have highly effective systems to identify pupils' specific needs early."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The personal development programme is well designed."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance has improved over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders know the quality of the curriculum and teaching well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, and since joining the trust, leaders, including those responsible for governance, have united effectively to define the vision for the school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Outcomes in the national tests at the end of key stage 2 are not high enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that gaps in pupils' knowledge, especially in reading, writing and mathematics, are identified and addressed consistently so that pupils achieve well, particularly in the statutory tests at the end of key stage 2"; "Leaders should further develop teaching across the school to ensure that pupils learn the curriculum, including the wider curriculum, consistently well".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to welcome you to Wenlock CE Academy, a school where every child matters, every lesson counts, and every day is an opportunity to flourish. At the heart of everything we do is a simple but powerful belief: every child, every lesson, every day ."

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at Wenlock CofE Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 46% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Luton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 58% in reading and 41% in maths in 2024.

Across Luton, 93% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Luton lodged 85 appeals against primary school offers; 67 reached a hearing and 1 succeeded (1.5% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Wenlock CofE Academy are Crawley Green Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding); St Matthew's Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 69% maths); The Linden Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 79% reading, 74% maths); and Ramridge Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 64% reading, 80% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Wenlock CofE Academy.

Wenlock CofE Academy is one of 15 schools run by Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Wenlock CofE Academy (as of April 2026): 87% would recommend the school, 87% 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 feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).

34.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 36.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (29%), White British (21%) and Black (17%).

In 2026, 74 pupils (23.8%) received SEN support and 14 (4.5%) 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 nearest railway station is Luton Airport Parkway Rail Station, about 1030 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Rutland Crescent (near), 190 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 583 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 Luton (296), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Wenlock CofE Academy issued 8 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Wenlock CofE Academy are Chiltern Academy (0.7 miles), Queen Elizabeth School (0.8 miles) and Putteridge High School (1.7 miles).