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Community school · Central Bedfordshire

The Mary Bassett Lower School

  • 2–9Ages
  • 378Pupils
  • PrimaryPhase
  • 109508URN

Bassett Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AR · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2024 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.4per place
0.2 above Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

139 applications for 59 places · 26th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire
Every year since 2014

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 22 May 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early years provisionOutstanding

Inspection history

  1. 22 May 2024
    Graded inspection: Good
  2. 14 March 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

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
2.4applications per place, Reception
0.2 above Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) close to England median (2.2)

139 applications · 59 places offered · 50 named it first

  1. 2026 2.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
  2. 2025 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
  3. 2024 2.0; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  4. 2023 3.0; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  5. 2022 2.0; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
  6. 2021 2.2; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
  7. 2020 2.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  8. 2019 2.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  9. 2018 2.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  10. 2017 2.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  11. 2016 2.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  12. 2015 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
  13. 2014 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
More applications per place than the Central Bedfordshire median in 13 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Central Bedfordshire 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 2026591392.4500.85
Sep 2025601161.9550.92
Sep 2024601212.0510.85
Sep 2023381153.0350.92
Sep 2022601192.0520.87
Sep 2021601332.2621.03
Sep 2020601522.5701.17
Sep 2019601362.3580.97
Sep 2018571192.1540.95
Sep 2017601282.1590.98
Sep 2016591252.1540.92
Sep 2015601111.9701.17
Sep 2014611051.7661.08

Schools nearby

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

  • 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
109508 · 823/2176
Capacity
420 pupils · 378 on roll
Free school meals
18.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery
Has nursery classes
Address
Bassett Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AR
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

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