The school mainly attracts pupils from the Kingsbrook, Cauldwell and Newnham areas of Bedford, as well as the village of Elstow.

In June 2008 Bedfordshire County Council announced that it would explore the possibilities of John Bunyan Upper School becoming an Academy, sponsored by the Harpur Trust and Bedford College.

[2] In March 2009, Bedfordshire County Council confirmed that John Bunyan Upper School would close on 31 August 2010.

[4] However, in October 2009, The Harpur Trust and Bedford College issued a statement indicating that plans for the new academy would have to be re-examined if it is not to educate pupils from the age of 11.

The sponsors stated that the academy would work best as part of a two-tier education system in the local area, which would end the need for middle schools.