Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

Lark Rise Academy

3–11Ages
351Pupils
PrimaryPhase
136345URN

Cartmel Drive, Dunstable, LU6 3PT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2025 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

3.5per place

1.4 above Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

159 applications for 45 places · 6th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

88%met the expected standard

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 11 March 2025Ofsted'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	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

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

3.5applications per place, Reception

1.4 above Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) 1.3 above England median (2.2)

159 applications · 45 places offered · 69 named it first

2026 3.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
2025 3.0; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
2024 2.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2023 2.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2022 2.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2021 2.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2020 2.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2019 3.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2018 2.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2017 2.4; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2016 2.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2015 2.3; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2014 1.8; 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	45	159	3.5	69	1.53
Sep 2025	44	131	3.0	68	1.55
Sep 2024	45	121	2.7	59	1.31
Sep 2023	45	132	2.9	65	1.44
Sep 2022	45	122	2.7	55	1.22
Sep 2021	45	128	2.8	48	1.07
Sep 2020	45	112	2.5	48	1.07
Sep 2019	44	134	3.1	65	1.48
Sep 2018	45	132	2.9	64	1.42
Sep 2017	45	110	2.4	65	1.44
Sep 2016	45	102	2.3	60	1.33
Sep 2015	45	104	2.3	54	1.20
Sep 2014	45	80	1.8	49	1.09

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 98% · Writing 90% · Maths 95% → all three 88% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard88%1st of 36 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard98%

Central Bedfordshire 72% England 78%

Higher standard45%

Central Bedfordshire 29% England 33%

Average scaled score 109 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard90%

Central Bedfordshire 71% England 75%

Greater depth15%

Central Bedfordshire 0% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard95%

Central Bedfordshire 67% England 77%

Higher standard45%

Central Bedfordshire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 110 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Central Bedfordshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	88%	10%	109	110
2023/24	82%	14%	109	108
2022/23	73%	11%	108	107

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

Lark Rise AcademyThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place 88%met the SATs standard
Ardley Hill Academy
0.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2024

2.6applications per place 60%met the SATs standard
Watling Lower School
0.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Some aspects not as strong2024

4.1applications per place
Dunstable Icknield Lower School
1.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

Requires improvement2023

2.3applications per place
Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School
1.1 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

1.9applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
Lancot School
1.5 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 64%met the SATs standard
Beecroft Academy
1.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Good2024

1.8applications per place 39%met the SATs standard
St. Augustine's Academy
1.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
2.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

1.5applications per place 62%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: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 136345 · 823/2217
Trust: Chiltern Learning Trust
Capacity: 360 pupils · 351 on roll
Free school meals: 7.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 October 2010
Replaced: Lark Rise Lower School (URN 109528)
Address: Cartmel Drive, Dunstable, LU6 3PT
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

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