SecondaryState · Free schools

Chiltern Academy

Gipsy Lane, Luton, LU1 3GF ·

Ofsted:Good· 2023

At a glance

A state secondary free school for ages 11–16 in Luton. Rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection (February 2023). GCSE results are above the England average (Attainment 8: 49.5 vs 46.1, 2024/25). Oversubscribed: 272 families put it first for 228 places (September 2026 entry).

Ages: 11–16
Pupils: 1,203
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: No
Admissions: Non-selective
Local authority: Luton
Academy trust: CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST
Headteacher: Mr Ian Douglas
Opened: Sept 2018

School website 01582310644 Explore the area

Inspection

Ofsted (framework in use until November 2025)

Read reports

Graded inspection 2 Feb 2023

GoodOverall effectiveness

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Outstanding
Leadership and management: Good

Safeguarding effective: Yes

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 · 231 pupils

Attainment 8

49.5

England 46.1

Grade 5+ Eng & maths

48.1%

England 45.4%

Grade 4+ Eng & maths

69.3%

England 64.8%

Progress 8

+0.38

2023/24 · CI 0.19 to 0.56

This school

49.5

Luton

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

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

Offers made

228

1st preferences

272

All applications

652

1st prefs per place

1.19

More first choices than places

204 of 272 first-preference applicants were offered a place (75%). 1 offers went to families living in another council area.

Oversubscribed with first preferences

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

1,191

Capacity

1,200

100% full

Girls / boys

48/52

Mixed

Eligible for free school meals (last 6 years)37.8%
English as an additional language41.8%
SEN support10.7%
Education, Health and Care plan2.5%
The black tick shows the median for state-funded secondary schools in England.