Community school · Bedford

Sheerhatch Primary School

4–11Ages
129Pupils
PrimaryPhase
109442URN

Willington Road, Cople, Bedford, MK44 3TH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.8per place

0.4 below Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

27 applications for 15 places · 32nd 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

Report card · inspected 6 January 2026Published 1 March 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching			Needs attention
Achievement			Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour		Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Expected standard
Early years			Needs attention
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance			Needs attention

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

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

6 January 2026
Report card · 3 Expected standard, 4 Needs attention
18 November 2021
Graded inspection: 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

1.8applications per place, Reception

0.4 below Bedford median (2.2) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

27 applications · 15 places offered · 15 named it first

2026 1.8; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 1.3; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 2.0; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 1.9; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 1.6; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 1.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 2.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 1.4; Bedford median median 1.8
2016 1.7; Bedford median median 2.0
2015 1.4; Bedford median median 1.9
2014 1.3; Bedford median median 1.9

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	15	27	1.8	15	1.00
Sep 2025	19	25	1.3	18	0.95
Sep 2024	12	24	2.0	12	1.00
Sep 2023	12	23	1.9	12	1.00
Sep 2022	21	34	1.6	20	0.95
Sep 2021	20	31	1.6	16	0.80
Sep 2020	10	17	1.7	9	0.90
Sep 2019	10	16	1.6	9	0.90
Sep 2018	10	21	2.1	10	1.00
Sep 2017	9	13	1.4	9	1.00
Sep 2016	11	19	1.7	11	1.00
Sep 2015	12	17	1.4	12	1.00
Sep 2014	15	20	1.3	16	1.07

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 81% · Writing 63% · Maths 56% → 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 standard81%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard56%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard63%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard56%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard44%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (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%	109	104
2023/24	39%	0%	105	101
2022/23	38%	0%	103	102

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

Sheerhatch Primary SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.8applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Shortstown Primary School
3.2 km · Bedford

2026

1.8applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Goldington Green Academy
3.4 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Cotton End Forest School
3.8 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.1applications per place 77%met the SATs standard
Moggerhanger Primary School
4.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good · concerns noted2024

2.2applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
King's Oak Primary School
4.2 km · Bedford

2026

1.8applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Putnoe Primary School
4.3 km · Bedford

Good2024

2.3applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy
4.3 km · Bedford

Good2022

2.0applications per place 0%met the SATs standard
Renhold VC Primary School
4.6 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 43%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: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 109442 · 822/2035
Capacity: 210 pupils · 129 on roll
Free school meals: 18.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Replaced: Willington Lower School (URN 109491)
Address: Willington Road, Cople, Bedford, MK44 3TH
Local authority: Bedford

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