Community school · Bedford

Balliol Primary School

2–11Ages
355Pupils
PrimaryPhase
109464URN

Balliol Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7ER · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.8per place

0.5 above Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

67 applications for 24 places · 7th of 38 in Bedford

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

39%met the expected standard

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 12 July 2022Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
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

2.8applications per place, Reception

0.5 above Bedford median (2.2) 0.6 above England median (2.2)

67 applications · 24 places offered · 23 named it first

2026 2.8; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 2.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 2.6; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 2.0; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 1.8; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 1.9; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.8; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.8; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 2.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 1.8; Bedford median median 1.8
2016 1.8; Bedford median median 2.0
2015 1.9; Bedford median median 1.9
2014 1.7; 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	24	67	2.8	23	0.96
Sep 2025	27	71	2.6	26	0.96
Sep 2024	29	74	2.6	26	0.90
Sep 2023	43	85	2.0	37	0.86
Sep 2022	44	77	1.8	31	0.70
Sep 2021	52	98	1.9	38	0.73
Sep 2020	45	82	1.8	38	0.84
Sep 2019	44	79	1.8	39	0.89
Sep 2018	39	80	2.1	33	0.85
Sep 2017	44	81	1.8	43	0.98
Sep 2016	48	87	1.8	38	0.79
Sep 2015	48	89	1.9	45	0.94
Sep 2014	45	75	1.7	43	0.96

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 57% · Writing 63% · Maths 49% → all three 39% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard39%44th of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard57%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard12%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 100 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard63%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard49%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard12%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 100 (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	39%	0%	100	100
2023/24	52%	4%	103	103
2022/23	54%	0%	103	103

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

Balliol Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2022

2.8applications per place 39%met the SATs standard
Bedford Road Primary Academy
0.9 km · Bedford

2025

2.2applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
Kempston Rural Primary School
1.0 km · Bedford

Good2023

2.8applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Springfield Primary School
1.2 km · Bedford

Good2022

2.1applications per place 51%met the SATs standard
Camestone School
1.4 km · Bedford

Remains Good2022

1.9applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Great Denham Primary School
2.1 km · Bedford

Outstanding2024

2.7applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Wootton Primary School
2.4 km · Bedford

Remains Good2024

1.5applications per place
Cauldwell School
2.5 km · Bedford

2025

2.3applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Westfield Primary School
2.6 km · Bedford

2026

2.5applications per place 48%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: 109464 · 822/2064
Capacity: 440 pupils · 355 on roll
Free school meals: 30.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Balliol Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7ER
Local authority: Bedford

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