Academy converter · Central Bedfordshire

Ardley Hill Academy

2–11Ages
422Pupils
PrimaryPhase
138209URN

Lowther Road, Dunstable, LU6 3NZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.6per place

0.4 above Central Bedfordshire median (2.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Central Bedfordshire

95 applications for 37 places · 20th of 82 in Central Bedfordshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

60%met the expected standard

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 16 July 2024Ofsted'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

2.6applications per place, Reception

0.4 above Central Bedfordshire median (2.1) 0.4 above England median (2.2)

95 applications · 37 places offered · 29 named it first

2026 2.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 2.1
2025 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.9
2024 1.8; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2023 1.5; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2022 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2021 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2020 1.6; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2019 2.0; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2018 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2017 1.9; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2016 2.1; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.8
2015 1.7; Central Bedfordshire median median 1.7
2014 1.6; 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.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	37	95	2.6	29	0.78
Sep 2025	59	100	1.7	53	0.90
Sep 2024	49	87	1.8	43	0.88
Sep 2023	49	72	1.5	33	0.67
Sep 2022	48	77	1.6	43	0.90
Sep 2021	49	80	1.6	47	0.96
Sep 2020	55	90	1.6	50	0.91
Sep 2019	50	100	2.0	49	0.98
Sep 2018	60	111	1.9	64	1.07
Sep 2017	59	110	1.9	49	0.83
Sep 2016	60	123	2.1	66	1.10
Sep 2015	60	104	1.7	57	0.95
Sep 2014	60	95	1.6	58	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 71% · Writing 78% · Maths 69% → all three 60% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard60%16th of 36 in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard71%

Central Bedfordshire 72% England 78%

Higher standard32%

Central Bedfordshire 29% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard78%

Central Bedfordshire 71% England 75%

Greater depth3%

Central Bedfordshire 0% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard69%

Central Bedfordshire 67% England 77%

Higher standard24%

Central Bedfordshire 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (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	60%	3%	105	104
2023/24	42%	4%	103	102
2022/23	60%	10%	106	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

Ardley Hill AcademyThis school
This school

Good2024

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

Some aspects not as strong2024

4.1applications per place
Lark Rise Academy
0.7 km · Central Bedfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

3.5applications per place 88%met the SATs standard
St. Augustine's Academy
1.0 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
Dunstable Icknield Lower School
1.1 km · Central Bedfordshire

Requires improvement2023

2.3applications per place
St Mary's Catholic Primary School
1.4 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

1.5applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School
1.4 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

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

Remains Good2024

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

Good2024

1.8applications per place 39%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: 138209 · 823/2192
Trust: Chiltern Learning Trust
Capacity: 520 pupils · 422 on roll
Free school meals: 12.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 June 2012
Replaced: Ardley Hill Lower School (URN 109517)
Address: Lowther Road, Dunstable, LU6 3NZ
Local authority: Central Bedfordshire

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