Bedford Road Primary Academy, Bedford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 9 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Bedford Road Primary Academy excels at teaching reading and has made impressive improvements in this area. The school creates a positive, welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and well cared for, with clear behaviour expectations that keep classrooms calm and productive. Leaders are ambitious and unwavering in their drive to raise standards, and staff have responded positively to the improvements made since joining the trust.
Key Strengths
- Teaching of reading is a particular strength with trained staff checking pupils' understanding carefully
- Leaders have created clear behaviour expectations with productive classrooms and minimal disruption
- Early years children make a positive start and are well-prepared for Year 1
- School has improved attendance rates, particularly for disadvantaged pupils
- Personal development programme prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain
Areas for Improvement
- Achievement in reading, writing and mathematics at end of key stage 2 is typically below national averages
- Some older pupils have significant gaps in important knowledge such as number facts and catch-up is not happening quickly enough
- Assessment approaches in some subjects are at an earlier stage of development
- Support to address knowledge gaps in some subjects lacks precision
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School choir, clubs, trips, visits to different places of worship
Bedford Road Primary Academy became part of a trust in January 2024 and has made significant improvements in safeguarding, behaviour, and curriculum. The school is working to raise achievement, particularly for older pupils who have gaps in key knowledge.
At a Glance
30.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2025/26 academic year
Class Sizes
26.6
Avg class size
26.5
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
14
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
87%
Available places
365 pupils
420 capacity
55 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bedford
Admissions Demand - Bedford
Places available
2,690
Applications
2,103
Got 1st preference
93.6%
Got preferred school
99.3%
Primary admissions across Bedford (2025/26)
Inspection History
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.44397%
Overall absence
16.95906%
Persistent absence
342
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Bedford Road Primary Academy
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