Academy converter · Bedford

St John Rigby Catholic Primary School

3–11Ages
268Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
139515URN

Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2023 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

close to Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

43 applications for 18 places · 15th of 38 in Bedford

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

49%met the expected standard

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 26 September 2023Ofsted'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

2.4applications per place, Reception

close to Bedford median (2.2) 0.2 above England median (2.2)

43 applications · 18 places offered · 16 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.4; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 2.2; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 1.7; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 1.7; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 1.6; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 1.5; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.8; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.9; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 1.9; Bedford median median 1.8
2016 2.0; Bedford median median 2.0
2015 1.8; Bedford median median 1.9
2014 1.6; 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	18	43	2.4	16	0.89
Sep 2025	18	40	2.2	15	0.83
Sep 2024	30	50	1.7	28	0.93
Sep 2023	27	47	1.7	26	0.96
Sep 2022	28	44	1.6	26	0.93
Sep 2021	39	60	1.5	38	0.97
Sep 2020	59	106	1.8	57	0.97
Sep 2019	54	100	1.9	50	0.93
Sep 2018	60	104	1.7	57	0.95
Sep 2017	60	114	1.9	58	0.97
Sep 2016	60	119	2.0	80	1.33
Sep 2015	60	105	1.8	70	1.17
Sep 2014	60	95	1.6	58	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 63% · Writing 67% · Maths 57% → all three 49% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard49%36th of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard63%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard29%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard67%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth6%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard57%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard24%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 102 (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	49%	4%	103	102
2023/24	43%	4%	103	101
2022/23	49%	2%	105	103

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

St John Rigby Catholic Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.4applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Hazeldene School
0.6 km · Bedford

Standards maintained2024

3.0applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
The Hills Academy
0.6 km · Bedford

Standards maintained2025

3.1applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Goldington Green Academy
1.3 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Brickhill Primary School
1.4 km · Bedford

Remains Good2024

3.2applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Putnoe Primary School
1.6 km · Bedford

Good2024

2.3applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Scott Primary School & Nursery
1.8 km · Bedford

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 59%met the SATs standard
Livingstone Primary School
2.0 km · Bedford

Good2023

2.6applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Priory Primary School
2.0 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139515 · 822/3350
Trust: Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust Ltd
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 420 pupils · 268 on roll
Free school meals: 11.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2013
Replaced: St John Rigby RC VA Lower School (URN 109632)
Address: Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DQ
Local authority: Bedford

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