| Established | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Type | Comprehensive secondary school |
| Headteacher | Mr S Peacey |
| Specialism | Arts College |
| Location | Wentworth Drive Putnoe, Bedford Bedfordshire MK41 8PX England |
| Local authority | Bedford |
| DfE URN | 109674 |
| Ofsted | Reports |
| Students | 1217 |
| Gender | Coeducational |
| Ages | 11–19 |
| Website | www.markrutherford.beds.sch.uk |
Mark Rutherford School is a coeducational secondary school located in the Putnoe area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. The school is named in honour of the writer William Hale White who used 'Mark Rutherford' as a pseudonym.
Mark Rutherford school educates pupils from age 11 through to 16. In addition, the school offers a sixth form provision for pupils age 16 to 19 wishing to study courses such as A levels. The school has been awarded specialist status as an Arts College, and offers a range of courses related to the performing arts.
Contents |
The school opened in 1973 as an upper school, educating children from the age of 13. However, in September 2010 children in academic years 7 and 8 of Woodside Middle School transferred to Mark Rutherford School, and year 7 pupils from Woodside now transfer to Mark Rutherford every year. This means that Mark Rutherford School now educates children from the age of 11, and is the only secondary school of its kind in the Borough of Bedford. Woodside Middle School formally closed in September 2011, though the site is still used by Putnoe Primary School which took over responsibility of Woodside's academic years 5 and 6.
The school's catchment area covers Putnoe and Goldington, as well as some parts of Brickhill and Newnham. Middle and primary schools which fall in to Mark Rutherford Schools catchment area include Putnoe Primary School, Goldington Academy and Newnham Middle School.