Academy converter · Bedford

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School

3–11Ages
271Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
139547URN

Biddenham Turn, Bedford, MK40 4AT · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.9per place

0.3 below Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

40 applications for 21 places · 28th of 38 in Bedford

Every year since 2018

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

44%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 · 17 October 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

1.9applications per place, Reception

0.3 below Bedford median (2.2) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

40 applications · 21 places offered · 20 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.9; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 1.4; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 1.7; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 1.4; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 1.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 1.5; Bedford median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Bedford median in 0 of 9 years.

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	21	40	1.9	20	0.95
Sep 2025	26	45	1.7	25	0.96
Sep 2024	34	49	1.4	32	0.94
Sep 2023	27	45	1.7	27	1.00
Sep 2022	39	56	1.4	39	1.00
Sep 2021	34	53	1.6	34	1.00
Sep 2020	39	68	1.7	36	0.92
Sep 2019	43	70	1.6	41	0.95
Sep 2018	53	78	1.5	54	1.02

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 67% · Writing 53% · Maths 63% → all three 44% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard44%42nd of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard67%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard16%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 103 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard53%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard63%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard7%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 101 (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	44%	0%	103	101
2023/24	35%	2%	102	100
2022/23	45%	0%	104	102

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 Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.9applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Westfield Primary School
0.4 km · Bedford

2026

2.5applications per place 48%met the SATs standard
Queen's Park Academy
0.5 km · Bedford

Good2022

1.5applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Great Ouse Primary Academy
0.6 km · Bedford

2026

2.1applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
St James' CofE Academy
0.9 km · Bedford

Standards maintained2025

4.1applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Great Denham Primary School
1.2 km · Bedford

Outstanding2024

2.7applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Priory Primary School
1.3 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.5applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Livingstone Primary School
1.3 km · Bedford

Good2023

2.6applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Edith Cavell Primary School
1.5 km · Bedford

Remains Good2024

2.3applications per place 58%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: 139547 · 822/4601
Trust: Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust Ltd
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 525 pupils · 271 on roll
Free school meals: 34.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 April 2013
Address: Biddenham Turn, Bedford, MK40 4AT
Local authority: Bedford

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