Academy converter · Bedford

Harrold Primary Academy

4–11Ages
96Pupils
PrimaryPhase
143084URN

The Green, Harrold, Bedford, MK43 7DB · 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

1.6per place

0.7 below Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

14 applications for 9 places

Every year since 2017

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

81%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 · 20 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

1.6applications per place, Reception

0.7 below Bedford median (2.2) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

14 applications · 9 places offered · 9 named it first

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

2026 1.6; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 2.1; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 1.3; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 2.0; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 1.5; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.5; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.5; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 2.1; Bedford median median 1.8

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	9	14	1.6	9	1.00
Sep 2025	14	29	2.1	13	0.93
Sep 2024	14	18	1.3	14	1.00
Sep 2023	8	16	2.0	8	1.00
Sep 2022	15	22	1.5	15	1.00
Sep 2021	14	24	1.7	14	1.00
Sep 2020	17	26	1.5	14	0.82
Sep 2019	20	29	1.5	20	1.00
Sep 2018	20	33	1.7	19	0.95
Sep 2017	20	41	2.1	20	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 88% · Writing 88% · Maths 94% → all three 81% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard81%1st of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard88%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard50%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard88%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth6%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard94%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard25%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 105 (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	81%	6%	107	105
2023/24	78%	0%	108	104
2022/23	58%	0%	106	105

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

Harrold Primary AcademyThis school
This school

Good2023

1.6applications per place 81%met the SATs standard
Carlton CofE Primary School
1.2 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Turvey Primary School
4.1 km · Bedford

Remains Good2022

2.3applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Lavendon School
4.4 km · Milton Keynes

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.5applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Pinchmill Primary School
4.6 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 29%met the SATs standard
Bozeat Community Primary School
4.8 km · North Northamptonshire

Good2023

1.5applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Sharnbrook Primary
5.5 km · Bedford

Good2024

1.6applications per place 70%met the SATs standard
Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School
5.7 km · Bedford

Remains Good2024

2.6applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
Newton Blossomville Church of England School
5.7 km · Milton Keynes

Outstanding2023

6.3applications per place

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 143084 · 822/2054
Trust: Meridian Trust
Capacity: 210 pupils · 96 on roll
Free school meals: 15.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 October 2016
Address: The Green, Harrold, Bedford, MK43 7DB
Local authority: Bedford

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