Wixams Academy, Bedford

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Wixams Academy on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Despite some variation in how well pupils are supported, pupils typically achieve well across the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have made improvements to the curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders continue to improve the school since the previous inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "A well considered personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum is in place."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders continue to refine and improve the curriculum in the post-16."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Key groups of pupils, such as those with special educational needs and/or disabilities or those who are disadvantaged, do not attend well enough."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Some pupils' needs are not identified promptly and, therefore, they are not supported well enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further embed the improvements to the school's approach to inclusion, including how staff access information and training, so pupils' needs and barriers to success are accurately identified and effectively addressed"; "Leaders should improve attendance for all pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those who are disadvantaged".

In 2026, pupils at Wixams Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 43.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45 in Bedford and 47 across England.

44% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Bedford and 47% in England.

That is down from 47.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.23: pupils made above 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 37.2, against 46.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Spanish and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 154 families put Wixams Academy as their first choice and 246 named it as one of their preferences, for 167 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 secondary schools to Wixams Academy are Daubeney Academy (2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 46.1); Marston Vale Middle School (2.2 miles, Requires improvement); Bedford Academy (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.4); and Kempston Academy (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.4).

Wixams Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Wixams Academy is one of 9 schools run by Knowledge Schools Trust, an academy trust.

83 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Wixams Academy (as of April 2026): 43% would recommend the school, 55% say their child is happy there and 35% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (65%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (34%).

Of the 171 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 38 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 42% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 21% into work.

The nearest railway station is Kempston Hardwick Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

In August 2026, police recorded 73 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136).

In 2024/25, Wixams Academy issued 262 suspensions, 28.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Wixams Academy are Wixams Tree Primary Academy (under 0.1 miles), Willow Grove Primary School (0.4 miles), Lakeview School (0.5 miles) and Wilstead Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.