Bedford Free School vs Bedford School
A head-to-head comparison of two schools in East of England, England, 1.0 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Bedford Free School
Bedford · Academy secondary · Ages 11–16
536 students
Bedford School
Bedford · Independent all-through · Ages 7–19
994 students
| Measure | Bedford Free School Bedford, East of England | Bedford School Bedford, East of England |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 49 Top 50% | 20 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #241 of 460 | #421 of 460 |
| National rank | #2006 of 4,090 | #3517 of 4,090 |
| Sector | Academy | Independent |
| Type | Secondary | All-through |
| Year range | Ages 11–16 | Ages 7–19 |
| Students | 536 | 994 |
| Pupils on roll | 536 | 994 |
| Free school meals | 29.5% | – |
| Capacity filled | 107.2% | 82.8% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 46.5 | 14.6 |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 36.7% | 0% |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 62.2% | 0% |
| EBacc average points | 4.51 | 0.98 |
| A level points per entry | – | 44.8 |
| town | Bedford | Bedford |
| region | East of England | East of England |
| Website | www.bedfordfreeschool.co.uk/ | www.bedfordschool.org.uk |
The verdict
- •Bedford Free School scores higher on the Success Index (England) (49.2 vs 20.2).
- •Bedford School is the larger school with 994 students compared with 536.
- •Bedford Free School is a academy school while Bedford School is a independent school, so fees and admission rules differ.
- •Bedford Free School is co-educational and Bedford School is boys.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Bedford Free School better than Bedford School?
On the Success Index (England), Bedford Free School ranks higher (49.2 vs 20.2 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are Bedford Free School and Bedford School?
About 1.0 km in a straight line, between Bedford and Bedford in East of England.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Bedford Free School: 536. Bedford School: 994. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Bedford Free School and Bedford School rank in East of England?
Bedford Free School is 241st of 460 and Bedford School is 421st of 460 among secondary schools in East of England on the 2025 Success Index (England).