Foundation school · Bedford

Priory Primary School

3–11Ages
214Pupils
PrimaryPhase
109436URN

Greyfriars, Bedford, MK40 1JD · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Nov 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.5per place

1.3 above Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

98 applications for 28 places · 2nd of 38 in Bedford

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

50%met the expected standard

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 5 November 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

3.5applications per place, Reception

1.3 above Bedford median (2.2) 1.3 above England median (2.2)

98 applications · 28 places offered · 44 named it first

2026 3.5; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 3.5; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 4.0; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 3.5; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 3.3; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 2.9; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 3.0; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 3.2; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 2.8; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 3.2; Bedford median median 1.8
2016 3.4; Bedford median median 2.0
2015 3.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2014 2.8; Bedford median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Bedford median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Bedford median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	28	98	3.5	44	1.57
Sep 2025	26	92	3.5	44	1.69
Sep 2024	26	105	4.0	46	1.77
Sep 2023	26	92	3.5	44	1.69
Sep 2022	26	86	3.3	36	1.38
Sep 2021	28	81	2.9	49	1.75
Sep 2020	27	82	3.0	39	1.44
Sep 2019	26	84	3.2	35	1.35
Sep 2018	28	78	2.8	31	1.11
Sep 2017	28	90	3.2	37	1.32
Sep 2016	28	94	3.4	44	1.57
Sep 2015	28	88	3.1	37	1.32
Sep 2014	27	76	2.8	30	1.11

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 58% · Writing 75% · Maths 67% → all three 50% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard50%33rd of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard58%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard17%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard75%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth13%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard67%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard17%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 101 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Bedford median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	50%	0%	103	101
2023/24	46%	4%	103	103
2022/23	35%	0%	101	100

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Priory Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Livingstone Primary School
0.6 km · Bedford

Good2023

2.6applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Queen's Park Academy
1.1 km · Bedford

Good2022

1.5applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Edith Cavell Primary School
1.1 km · Bedford

Remains Good2024

2.3applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Westfield Primary School
1.3 km · Bedford

2026

2.5applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
1.3 km · Bedford

Good2023

1.9applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Great Ouse Primary Academy
1.3 km · Bedford

2026

2.1applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Cauldwell School
1.3 km · Bedford

2025

2.3applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Shackleton Primary School
1.7 km · Bedford

2026

2.6applications per place 54%met the SATs standard

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.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 109436 · 822/2013
Trust: The Leap Community Trust
Capacity: 206 pupils · 214 on roll
Free school meals: 26.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Greyfriars, Bedford, MK40 1JD
Local authority: Bedford

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources