Biggleswade Academy, Biggleswade
Biggleswade Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Biggleswade, part of Life Academies Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 16th-highest of the 51 schools in Central Bedfordshire with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 66% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Central Bedfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Biggleswade Academy in detail
Biggleswade Academy in its own words
In its own words: "We will achieve this through our aim to: Believe and Achieve Together"
From the headteacher's welcome: "Choosing a school that your child will be happy and thrive in is a big decision. This is a major milestone in your child's life and the decision is an important one."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Biggleswade Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 66% in Central Bedfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 79% in reading and 79% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Biggleswade Academy
For September 2026 entry, 99 families put Biggleswade Academy as their first choice and 197 named it as one of their preferences, for 114 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Biggleswade Academy are Lawnside Academy (0.6 miles, Good); St Andrew's CofE VC Primary School (0.9 miles, Good); Langford Village Academy (1.6 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths); and Caldecote Church of England Academy (2.2 miles, Good).
Lawnside AcademySt Andrew's CofE VC Primary SchoolLangford Village AcademyCaldecote Church of England Academy
The trust
Biggleswade Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Who goes there
11% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%) and Mixed (7%).
Biggleswade Academy provides for pupils with autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Biggleswade Rail Station, about 710 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Biggleswade Academy (outside), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 114 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Biggleswade Academy issued 34 suspensions, 3.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Biggleswade Academy are Stratton School (0.5 miles) and Edward Peake CofE VC School (1.1 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Early years (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
11.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 76% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 79% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 75% to 64% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
21.3
Avg class size
24.7
Infant (KS1)
25.8
KS2
34
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Biggleswade Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Biggleswade Academy.
- Junior Adventures Group @ Biggleswade AcademyAt the school · Not yet graded
- Theatretrain BiggleswadeAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Biggleswade Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Biggleswade Academy is in Central Bedfordshire; for families living there:
- Central Bedfordshire's school travel policy: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 9 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Biggleswade Academy
Will you get a place at Biggleswade Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Biggleswade Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Biggleswade Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Biggleswade Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Central Bedfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Biggleswade Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Central Bedfordshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
66%
Available places
631 pupils
957 places
326 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Biggleswade
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Biggleswade
Across Central Bedfordshire council
Places available
4,158
Applications
3,678
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across Central Bedfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
112
SEN Support
35
EHC Plans
17.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Biggleswade Academy provides for pupils with autism.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
839
Total Pupils
436
Boys
403
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
37
Teachers
22.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,453
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,236
Per pupil
£3465k
Total funding
£127k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
12.1%
Persistent absence
560
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Biggleswade Academy
Questions parents ask about Biggleswade Academy
What are SATs results like at Biggleswade Academy?
Of the pupils at Biggleswade Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Biggleswade Academy's Ofsted rating?
Biggleswade Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for Biggleswade Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Biggleswade Academy is oversubscribed, Central Bedfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Biggleswade Academy?
Biggleswade Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 66% of its 957 places.
How big are the classes at Biggleswade Academy?
Classes at Biggleswade Academy average 21.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Biggleswade Academy?
Biggleswade Academy has around 839 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Biggleswade Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Biggleswade Academy provides for pupils with autism.
What is attendance like at Biggleswade Academy?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Biggleswade Academy in 2024/25. 12.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Biggleswade Academy?
Apply through Central Bedfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Biggleswade Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Biggleswade Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Junior Adventures Group @ Biggleswade Academy (registered, not yet graded) and Theatretrain Biggleswade (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Biggleswade Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 9 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Biggleswade Academy?
Biggleswade Academy is at Mead End, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)