Academy converter · Bedford

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy

3–11Ages
176Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
143770URN

Silver Street, Bedford, MK44 3HZ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2022 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

0.2 below Bedford median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Bedford

24 applications for 12 places

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

0%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 · 28 September 2022Ofsted'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

2.0applications per place, Reception

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

24 applications · 12 places offered · 11 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.0; Bedford median median 2.2
2025 1.5; Bedford median median 1.9
2024 1.6; Bedford median median 1.8
2023 1.4; Bedford median median 1.8
2022 1.6; Bedford median median 1.8
2021 1.2; Bedford median median 1.9
2020 1.6; Bedford median median 1.9
2019 1.2; Bedford median median 1.9
2018 1.3; Bedford median median 1.9
2017 1.4; Bedford median median 1.8
2016 1.6; Bedford median median 2.0; as the previous school
2015 1.9; Bedford median median 1.9; as the previous school
2014 1.7; Bedford median median 1.9; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Bedford median in 0 of 10 years.

This school
Bedford median

Dashed bars: as Great Barford Lower School (URN 109454), the previous school.

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	12	24	2.0	11	0.92
Sep 2025	26	39	1.5	25	0.96
Sep 2024	22	34	1.6	22	1.00
Sep 2023	26	37	1.4	26	1.00
Sep 2022	30	47	1.6	30	1.00
Sep 2021	26	32	1.2	26	1.00
Sep 2020	29	47	1.6	30	1.03
Sep 2019	29	36	1.2	29	1.00
Sep 2018	52	65	1.3	51	0.98
Sep 2017	23	32	1.4	22	0.96
Sep 2016 *	26	42	1.6	26	1.00
Sep 2015 *	30	56	1.9	35	1.17
Sep 2014 *	30	51	1.7	32	1.07

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 66% · Writing 0% · Maths 60% → all three 0% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard0%49th of 49 in Bedford

Bedford 58% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard66%

Bedford 73% England 78%

Higher standard37%

Bedford 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard0%

Bedford 70% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Bedford 3% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard60%

Bedford 71% England 77%

Higher standard17%

Bedford 20% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (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	0%	0%	106	103
2023/24	39%	0%	103	102
2022/23	56%	7%	105	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

Great Barford Church of England Primary AcademyThis school
This school

Good2022

2.0applications per place 0%met the SATs standard
John Donne Church of England Primary School
2.6 km · Central Bedfordshire

2026

1.5applications per place 29%met the SATs standard
Moggerhanger Primary School
2.9 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good · concerns noted2024

2.2applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
Roxton Church of England Academy
3.6 km · Bedford

Good2023

1.9applications per place 27%met the SATs standard
Renhold VC Primary School
4.2 km · Bedford

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.8applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Maple Tree Primary School
4.3 km · Central Bedfordshire

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Sheerhatch Primary School
4.3 km · Bedford

2026

1.8applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Wilden CofE VA Primary School
4.6 km · Bedford

Good2024

1.9applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Laburnum Primary School
4.8 km · Central Bedfordshire

Serious weaknesses 2025

2.2applications per place 63%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: 143770 · 822/2052
Trust: Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 176 on roll
Free school meals: 20.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 June 2017
Replaced: Great Barford Lower School (URN 109454)
Address: Silver Street, Bedford, MK44 3HZ
Local authority: Bedford

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