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Voluntary aided school · Central Bedfordshire

St Mary's VA CofE Lower School

  • 2–9Ages
  • 134Pupils
  • PrimaryPhase
  • Church of EnglandReligious character
  • 109617URN

High Street, Clophill, MK45 4BE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Mar 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.8per place
0.3 below Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

47 applications for 26 places · 55th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire
Every year since 2014

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 3 March 2026Published 26 April 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionStrong standard
Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Early yearsStrong standard
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceStrong standard
  • 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

  1. 3 March 2026
    Report card · 5 Strong standard, 2 Expected standard
  2. 22 September 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
0.3 below Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) 0.4 below England median (2.2)

47 applications · 26 places offered · 23 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
  2. 2025 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
  3. 2024 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  4. 2023 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  5. 2022 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
  6. 2021 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
  7. 2020 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  8. 2019 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  9. 2018 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  10. 2017 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  11. 2016 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
  12. 2015 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
  13. 2014 1.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.6
  • 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 202626471.8230.88
Sep 202519291.5180.95
Sep 202423431.9220.96
Sep 202316281.8161.00
Sep 202223381.7231.00
Sep 202121381.8200.95
Sep 202020371.9190.95
Sep 201931501.6311.00
Sep 201816291.8150.94
Sep 201723351.5231.00
Sep 201623351.5200.87
Sep 201520331.7201.00
Sep 201423311.4210.91

Schools nearby

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

School details

Type
Voluntary aided school
Phase
Primary
URN · DfE number
109617 · 823/3307
Religious character
Church of England
Capacity
150 pupils · 134 on roll
Free school meals
11.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery
Has nursery classes
Address
High Street, Clophill, MK45 4BE
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire

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