SecondaryState · Academy sponsor led

Manshead Church of England Academy

Dunstable Road, Caddington, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 4BB ·

Report card: areas need attention· 2026Church of England

At a glance

A state Church of England secondary academy for ages 11–19 in Luton. Ofsted report card (February 2026): areas need attention. GCSE results are below the England average (Attainment 8: 43.0 vs 46.1, 2024/25). 162 families put it first for 189 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–19
Pupils: 1,134
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: Yes
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire
Academy trust: DIOCESE OF ST ALBANS MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher: Ms Olivia Burke
Opened: May 2017

School website 01582679400 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted report card (renewed framework)

Read reports

Inspected 3 Feb 2026Published 19 Apr 2026

SafeguardingMet
InclusionNeeds attention
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
Personal development and well-beingExpected standard
Post-16 provisionExpected standard
Leadership and governanceNeeds attention

Report cards grade each area separately on a five-point scale, from Urgent improvement to Exceptional. There is no single overall grade, and results are not directly comparable with earlier grades such as “Good”.

Inspection reports describe the school on the day. Read the full report and visit the school before deciding.

Exam results

Department for Education performance tables

GCSE results, 2024/25 · 180 pupils

Attainment 8

43.0

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

37.2%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

55.6%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

-0.53

2023/24 · CI -0.72 to -0.33

This school

Central Bedfordshire

43.6

England

46.1

Attainment 8 over time

Progress 8 isn't published for 2024/25 because those pupils had no KS2 test results (tests were cancelled in 2020). Exams were not held in 2019/20 or 2020/21.

Admissions

Demand for places and how places are allocated

Search for your address on the map to see straight-line distances to schools.

Year 7 entry, September 2026 (national offer day data)

Offers made

189

1st preferences

162

All applications

313

1st prefs per place

0.86

Fewer first choices than places

162 of 162 first-preference applicants were offered a place (100%). 7 offers went to families living in another council area.

Catchment area

We don't have an official catchment boundary for this school. Many schools don't have one, and few councils publish boundaries as open data. We don't estimate catchments. Check the school's admissions policy or the council's admissions booklet.

Last distance offered

Not published nationally. Many councils publish the furthest distance offered for each school in their annual allocation reports. Past distances vary year to year with demand and sibling numbers, so they are not a guarantee.

How places are allocated: you apply through your home council. When a school has more applicants than places, it applies its published oversubscription criteria in order. These usually start with looked-after children, then siblings, then catchment or distance; faith schools may prioritise church attendance. Children with an EHC plan naming the school are admitted first. Apply on GOV.UK

Pupils

School census 2024/25

Pupils

1,146

Capacity

1,350

84% full

Girls / boys

48/52

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)19.9%
English as an additional language19.9%
SEN support11.4%
Education, Health and Care plan5.2%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.