Bedford Primary School, Liverpool

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Bedford Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 3 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have carefully crafted an impressive programme beyond the academic curriculum that is relevant to pupils' lives now and in the future."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance rates are improving and the proportion of pupils who miss large amounts of their education is declining."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders carefully consider any disadvantages or barriers that pupils face."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including trustees and members of the local governing body, know their school very well."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged, have gaps in their knowledge across the curriculum, particularly in writing and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teachers' checks on pupils' learning do not identify or address gaps in their understanding well enough."

Early years - Needs attention. "Children are not supported to be as well prepared for the challenges of key stage 1 as they could be."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils who have not secured the necessary foundational knowledge and skills in English and mathematics, particularly those who are disadvantaged, receive appropriate support to secure and apply this knowledge so that pupils' achievement improves"; "Leaders should ensure that staff are supported to further develop how well they check pupils' learning in lessons and adapt their teaching in response so that pupils' gaps in knowledge, misconceptions are effectively addressed and that pupils' new learning builds on what they already know"; "Leaders should further develop the quality of staff-child interactions in the early years provision, so that staff promote children's confidence in their use of language to support their learning and development"; "Leaders should continue to take action to further reduce levels of absence for pupils".

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils at Bedford Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 55% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Sefton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (53% in reading, 57% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 50 families put Bedford Primary School as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 52 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Bedford Primary School are St Francis de Sales Catholic Infant and Nursery School (0.4 miles, Outstanding); St Francis de Sales Catholic Junior School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 75% reading, 82% maths); Christ Church Church of England Controlled Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 54% reading, 54% maths); and Arnot St Mary CofE Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 76% reading, 84% maths).

Bedford Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Bedford Primary School is one of 9 schools run by Southport Learning Trust, an academy trust.

52.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 29.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (57%), Black (10%) and Asian (10%).

In 2026, 86 pupils (21.9%) received SEN support and 22 (5.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Kirkdale Rail Station, about 640 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Balliol Road East (adjacent), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bedford Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 785 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Bedford Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 2.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Bedford Primary School are Hillside High School (0.2 miles) and Alsop High School (0.7 miles).