Voluntary controlled school · Bedford

Carlton CofE Primary School

2–11Ages
87Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
109610URN

The Moor, Carlton, Bedford, MK43 7JR · 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

2.3per place

close to Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

14 applications for 6 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

67%met the expected standard

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 12 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

2.3applications per place, Reception

close to Bedford median (2.2) close to England median (2.2)

14 applications · 6 places offered · 6 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.3; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 1.8; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 1.7; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 2.0; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 2.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.9; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 2.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 1.6; Bedford median median 1.8
2016 1.5; Bedford median median 2.0
2015 1.5; Bedford median median 1.9
2014 1.9; 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	6	14	2.3	6	1.00
Sep 2025	7	12	1.7	7	1.00
Sep 2024	9	16	1.8	9	1.00
Sep 2023	11	19	1.7	11	1.00
Sep 2022	11	22	2.0	11	1.00
Sep 2021	13	27	2.1	13	1.00
Sep 2020	12	23	1.9	12	1.00
Sep 2019	11	17	1.6	11	1.00
Sep 2018	12	25	2.1	12	1.00
Sep 2017	15	24	1.6	15	1.00
Sep 2016	19	29	1.5	19	1.00
Sep 2015	8	12	1.5	8	1.00
Sep 2014	15	29	1.9	16	1.07

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 92% · Writing 92% · Maths 67% → all three 67% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard67%12th of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard92%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard58%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 111 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard92%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth8%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard67%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard8%

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	67%	0%	111	104
2023/24	57%	0%	102	102
2022/23	58%	0%	105	104

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

Carlton CofE Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Harrold Primary Academy
1.2 km · Bedford

Good2023

1.6applications per place 81%met the SATs standard
Turvey Primary School
3.2 km · Bedford

Remains Good2022

2.3applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Lavendon School
4.2 km · Milton Keynes

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Pinchmill Primary School
4.5 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 29%met the SATs standard
Newton Blossomville Church of England School
5.1 km · Milton Keynes

Outstanding2023

6.3applications per place
Sharnbrook Primary
5.7 km · Bedford

Good2024

1.6applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Bozeat Community Primary School
5.8 km · North Northamptonshire

Good2023

1.5applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Oakley Primary Academy
6.2 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.5applications per place 63%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 109610 · 822/3018
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 120 pupils · 87 on roll
Free school meals: 7.1% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: The Moor, Carlton, Bedford, MK43 7JR
Local authority: Bedford

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