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Local authority · East of England

Schools in Bedford

  • 76State-funded schools
  • 55Primary
  • 14Secondary
  • 4Special
  • East of EnglandRegion
Applications per placeCircle size: applications
First choice · secondary 2026
91%
7 pts above England (84%)
2,095 families applied
First choice · primary 2026
93%
close to England (92%)
1,990 families applied
Applications per place · secondary
1.8
0.4 below England median (2.2)
Median school
New Ofsted report cards
15of 76 schools
Results by area

How hard is it to get a place here?

DfE · families living in Bedford
Secondary (Year 7) · Sept 2026
91%got their first choice
7 pts above England (84%)

2,095 applicants · 0.9% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 91%; England 84%
  2. 2025 84%; England 84%
  3. 2024 84%; England 83%
  4. 2023 88%; England 83%
  5. 2022 88%; England 83%
  6. 2021 85%; England 81%
  7. 2020 89%; England 82%
  8. 2019 86%; England 81%
  9. 2018 96%; England 82%
  10. 2017 97%; England 83%
  11. 2016 89%; England 84%
  12. 2015 95%; England 84%
  13. 2014 99%; England 85%
  • Bedford
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20262,09590.6%98.9%0.9%
Sep 20252,06984.1%96.5%3.3%
Sep 20242,01584.4%97.8%2.0%
Sep 20232,04788.0%98.0%1.9%
Sep 20222,04287.9%98.3%1.5%
Sep 20212,01485.1%95.5%3.9%
Sep 20202,00488.9%97.2%2.7%
Sep 20191,83085.9%97.0%2.8%
Sep 20181,09996.4%98.4%1.5%
Sep 201797496.8%98.9%1.1%
Sep 20161,25889.4%99.0%0.9%
Sep 20151,31494.7%98.9%1.0%
Sep 20141,47898.8%99.6%0.4%
Primary (Reception) · Sept 2026
93%got their first choice
close to England (92%)

1,990 applicants · 1.4% offered none of the schools they named

  1. 2026 93%; England 92%
  2. 2025 94%; England 93%
  3. 2024 95%; England 93%
  4. 2023 94%; England 92%
  5. 2022 92%; England 92%
  6. 2021 92%; England 92%
  7. 2020 91%; England 90%
  8. 2019 94%; England 91%
  9. 2018 96%; England 91%
  10. 2017 92%; England 90%
  11. 2016 90%; England 88%
  12. 2015 92%; England 88%
  13. 2014 92%; England 88%
  • Bedford
  • England
Every year as a table
EntryApplicantsFirst choiceOne of first threeNone they named
Sep 20261,99093.4%98.4%1.4%
Sep 20252,10393.6%99.1%0.7%
Sep 20242,07895.3%99.1%0.8%
Sep 20232,15594.3%98.9%0.9%
Sep 20222,16191.9%98.5%1.0%
Sep 20212,07892.5%98.9%0.7%
Sep 20202,18391.4%98.8%1.0%
Sep 20192,04694.4%99.4%0.5%
Sep 20182,16495.7%99.4%0.4%
Sep 20172,07592.3%98.6%1.0%
Sep 20162,17989.7%98.3%1.3%
Sep 20152,07991.8%98.2%1.7%
Sep 20142,10092.3%99.1%0.6%

What has Ofsted found here?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report cards 15 schools of 76 · since November 2025

  • Inclusion
  • Curriculum and teaching
  • Achievement
  • Attendance and behaviour
  • Personal development and wellbeing
  • Early years (11)
  • Post-16 provision (2)
  • Leadership and governance

One dot per school.

Overall grade from Ofsted's previous framework 45 schools · graded 2012 to 2024

  • Outstanding4
  • Good41
  • Requires improvement0
  • Inadequate0

Includes grades confirmed by a later ungraded inspection. Not comparable with report cards.

Graded 2024/25, no overall grade 13 schools

Key judgementOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of education1111–
Behaviour and attitudes310––
Personal development211––
Leadership and management310––

Not yet inspected (new or reorganised schools): 3.

Latest report cards

Every new report card, month by month · RSS for Bedford

Secondary schools in Bedford

14 schools · Year 7 entry 2026

Change the order (visual only)

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sorted by Attainment 8, highest first.

Sorted by the date of the latest Ofsted inspection, newest first.

Sorted by name.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeAttainment 8FSM
Bedford Free School Standards maintained2025 4.0 applications per place 51.0 30%
Goldington Academy 2026 3.1 applications per place 52.0 23%
Biddenham International School and Sports College Standards maintained2024 2.5 applications per place 40.3 36%
Bedford Academy Good2023 2.5 applications per place 44.4 40%
Mark Rutherford School 2025 2.3 applications per place 40.7 30%
Daubeney Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 1.9 applications per place 46.1 29%
Kempston Academy Standards maintained2024 1.8 applications per place 38.4 30%
St Thomas More Catholic School Faith Good2023 1.8 applications per place 41.0 22%
Lincroft Academy Graded · no overall grade2024 1.7 applications per place 50.4 14%
Sharnbrook Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 1.7 applications per place 47.7 15%
Wixams Academy 2026 1.5 applications per place 43.9 23%
Wootton Academy Graded · no overall grade2024 1.3 applications per place 44.8 19%
Castle Newnham School 2026 no data – 10%
Marston Vale Middle School Graded · no overall grade2024 no data – 22%

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS4 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Primary schools in Bedford

55 schools · Reception entry 2026

Sorted by applications per place for September 2026 entry, highest first.

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted.
SchoolLatest OfstedApplications per placeSATs standardFSM
St James' CofE Academy Faith Standards maintained2025 4.1 applications per place 54% 18%
Priory Primary School Graded · no overall grade2024 3.5 applications per place 50% 26%
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2022 3.4small intake applications per place 55% 8%
Brickhill Primary School Remains Good2024 3.2 applications per place 57% 17%
The Hills Academy Standards maintained2025 3.1 applications per place 63% 9%
Hazeldene School Standards maintained2024 3.0 applications per place 75% 13%
Ravensden CofE Primary Academy Faith Good2023 3.0small intake applications per place 9% 23%
Kempston Rural Primary School Good2023 2.8 applications per place 67% 11%
Balliol Primary School Good2022 2.8 applications per place 39% 30%
Wixams Tree Primary Academy Good2024 2.7 applications per place 60% 18%
Great Denham Primary School Outstanding2024 2.7 applications per place 72% 13%
Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School Faith Remains Good2024 2.6small intake applications per place 46% 10%
Livingstone Primary School Good2023 2.6 applications per place 49% 36%
Shackleton Primary School 2026 2.6 applications per place 54% 34%
Willow Grove Primary School Not yet inspected 2.6 applications per place – 14%
Westfield Primary School 2026 2.5 applications per place 48% 21%
Oakley Primary Academy Graded · no overall grade2024 2.5 applications per place 63% 11%
St John Rigby Catholic Primary School Faith Good2023 2.4 applications per place 49% 12%
Lakeview School Good2022 2.3 applications per place – 19%
Carlton CofE Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2024 2.3small intake applications per place 67% 7%
Putnoe Primary School Good2024 2.3 applications per place 57% 36%
Turvey Primary School Remains Good2022 2.3small intake applications per place 71% 14%
Edith Cavell Primary School Remains Good2024 2.3 applications per place 58% 36%
Cauldwell School 2025 2.3 applications per place 74% 21%
Kymbrook Primary School Remains Good2024 2.3small intake applications per place 75% 16%
Thurleigh Primary School Good2024 2.3small intake applications per place 50% 31%
Bedford Road Primary Academy 2025 2.2 applications per place 46% 30%
Pinchmill Primary School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.2small intake applications per place 29% 14%
Cotton End Forest School Graded · no overall grade2025 2.1 applications per place 77% 18%
Bromham CofE Primary School Faith Remains Good2023 2.1 applications per place 74% 9%
Elstow School Standards maintained2025 2.1 applications per place 74% 21%
Springfield Primary School Good2022 2.1 applications per place 51% 29%
Great Ouse Primary Academy 2026 2.1 applications per place 67% 19%
Eileen Wade Primary School 2025 2.0small intake applications per place 60% 14%
Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy Faith Good2022 2.0small intake applications per place 0% 21%
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School Faith 2026 2.0small intake applications per place 68% 25%
Camestone School Remains Good2022 1.9 applications per place 48% 12%
Scott Primary School & Nursery Remains Good2024 1.9 applications per place 59% 16%
Wilden CofE VA Primary School Faith Good2024 1.9small intake applications per place 63% 11%
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School Faith Good2023 1.9 applications per place 44% 35%
Roxton Church of England Academy Faith Good2023 1.9small intake applications per place 27% 27%
Renhold VC Primary School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 1.8 applications per place 43% 8%
Shortstown Primary School 2026 1.8 applications per place 60% 26%
King's Oak Primary School 2026 1.8 applications per place 61% 42%
Sheerhatch Primary School 2026 1.8 applications per place 50% 19%
Goldington Green Academy Graded · no overall grade2025 1.7 applications per place 62% 37%
Broadmead Lower School Good2023 1.7 applications per place – 19%
Riseley CofE Primary School Faith Good2024 1.6small intake applications per place 56% 9%
Harrold Primary Academy Good2023 1.6small intake applications per place 81% 16%
Sharnbrook Primary Good2024 1.6 applications per place 70% 14%
Wootton Primary School Remains Good2024 1.5 applications per place – 18%
Queen's Park Academy Good2022 1.5 applications per place 61% 32%
Ursula Taylor Church of England School Faith Graded · no overall grade2025 1.4 applications per place 35% 23%
Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Not yet inspected no data – 0%
Wilstead Primary School Good2023 no data – –

Sources: DfE admissions (Sept 2026), KS2 results, Ofsted. FSM: free school meals.

Special schools and other provision

7 schools