Vandyke Upper School
Ofsted
Official inspection reports and grades
Inspected 23 January 2024
Results
Compared with the local authority and England
KS4 Results
Attainment and progress
Attainment 8 scores a pupil's best 8 GCSE results, out of about 90. Progress 8 compares those results with pupils who started secondary school at the same level: 0 is average.
| Measure | School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 score | 48.2 | 43.6 | 46.1 |
GCSE results
Grade 4 is a standard pass; grade 5 is a strong pass.
| Measure | School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 48% | 42% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 71% | 65% | 65% |
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths | 67% | 58% | 60% |
English Baccalaureate
The EBacc is English, maths, science, a language, and history or geography. It is a set of subjects rather than a qualification.
| Measure | School | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entering the EBacc | 25% | 28% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.1 |
Based on 352 pupils at the end of key stage 4.
Catchment area
Vandyke Upper School's catchment area comes from its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, which decide who is offered a place when more children apply than there are places. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance from home or a catchment boundary, and the school's admissions policy says which it uses. Living nearby does not guarantee a place, and how far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
Vandyke Upper School is in Central Bedfordshire council's area. Check its admissions booklet for how far away places went in recent years.
Pupils and staff
Pupils
- Pupils
- 1,517
- Capacity
- 1,440
- Girls / boys
- 50% / 50%
- Free school meals
- 17%
Staff
- Teachers (FTE)
- 97.4
- Teaching assistants (FTE)
- 26.3
- Leadership (FTE)
- 11
- Part-time teachers
- 23%
School workforce census, 2025/26.
Parent View
Ofsted’s survey of parents at this school
94%
of parents would recommend this school to another parent
167 responses up to 6 January 2025 · 11% response rate
- Strongly agree
- Agree
- Don’t know
- Disagree
- Strongly disagree
My child is happy at this school.
95% agreeMy child feels safe at this school.
95% agreeThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.
92% agreeMy child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.
59% agreeThe school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.
83% agree
Questions about Vandyke Upper School
What is Vandyke Upper School's Ofsted rating?
Vandyke Upper School's last overall grade from Ofsted was Good, on 10 March 2015. Ofsted inspected it again on 23 January 2024 without giving a new overall grade.
What is the catchment area for Vandyke Upper School?
Vandyke Upper School's catchment area comes from its admission criteria, set by its academy trust, which decide who is offered a place when more children apply than there are places. Children in care or adopted from care come first by law. Most schools put brothers and sisters of current pupils next, then distance from home or a catchment boundary, and the school's admissions policy says which it uses. Living nearby does not guarantee a place, and how far away the last place went changes every year, depending on who applies.
How many pupils are at Vandyke Upper School?
Vandyke Upper School had 1,517 pupils aged 13 to 18 at the latest school census. Its official capacity is 1,440. It is a mixed school with a sixth form.
