Bedford Girls' School vs St Columba's College
A head-to-head comparison of two all-through schools in East of England, England, 44 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
Bedford Girls' School
Bedford · Independent all-through · Ages 7–18
843 students
St Columba's College
St Albans · Independent all-through · Ages 4–19
822 students
| Measure | Bedford Girls' School Bedford, East of England | St Columba's College St Albans, East of England |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 18 Lower 50% | 23 Lower 50% |
| Region rank | #440 of 460 | #396 of 460 |
| National rank | #3689 of 4,090 | #3311 of 4,090 |
| Sector | Independent | Independent |
| Type | All-through | All-through |
| Year range | Ages 7–18 | Ages 4–19 |
| Students | 843 | 822 |
| Pupils on roll | 843 | 822 |
| Free school meals | – | – |
| Capacity filled | 70.1% | 95% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | – | – |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | 14.2 | 32.9 |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 0% | 0% |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | 0% | 0% |
| EBacc average points | 0.73 | 2.61 |
| A level points per entry | 39.2 | 40.7 |
| town | Bedford | St Albans |
| region | East of England | East of England |
| Website | www.bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk/ | stcolumbascollege.org |
The verdict
- •St Columba's College scores higher on the Success Index (England) (23.2 vs 17.7).
- •Bedford Girls' School is the larger school with 843 students compared with 822.
- •Bedford Girls' School is girls and St Columba's College is co-educational.
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 Girls' School better than St Columba's College?
On the Success Index (England), St Columba's College ranks higher (23.2 vs 17.7 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 Girls' School and St Columba's College?
About 44 km in a straight line, between Bedford and St Albans in East of England.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
Bedford Girls' School: 843. St Columba's College: 822. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do Bedford Girls' School and St Columba's College rank in East of England?
Bedford Girls' School is 440th of 460 and St Columba's College is 396th of 460 among all-through schools in East of England on the 2025 Success Index (England).