Bushmead Primary & Nursery School, Luton
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Luton. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 20th-highest of the 41 schools in Luton with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was 83% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Luton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School in detail
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "At Bushmead children are empowered to be active, confident learners where they are inspired to be creative and excel. Bushmead has a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere where diversity is celebrated and children feel safe. We foster a sense of community and promote independence, acceptance, respect and aspiration. We are a learning community."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Luton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (75% in reading, 82% in maths).
Getting a place at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School
For September 2026 entry, 98 families put Bushmead Primary & Nursery School as their first choice and 181 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 11 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bushmead Primary & Nursery School are William Austin Infant School (0.7 miles, Good); William Austin Junior School (0.7 miles, Good, 81% reading, 82% maths); Warden Hill Junior School (0.8 miles, Good, 84% reading, 72% maths); and Warden Hill Infant Academy (0.8 miles).
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
William Austin Infant SchoolWilliam Austin Junior SchoolWarden Hill Junior SchoolWarden Hill Infant Academy
Who goes there
13.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 32.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (54%), White British (14%) and Mixed (11%).
In 2026, 29 pupils (4%) received SEN support and 15 (2.1%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Luton Rail Station, about 1.7 miles away in a straight line.
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bushmead Medical Centre (opposite), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 194 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Luton (296).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bushmead Primary & Nursery School issued 13 suspensions, 1.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Bushmead Primary & Nursery School are Stopsley High School (0.5 miles), Icknield High School (0.5 miles), Cardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science College (1.1 miles) and Denbigh High School (1.1 miles).
Stopsley High SchoolIcknield High SchoolCardinal Newman Catholic School A Specialist Science CollegeDenbigh High School
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
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
13.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 72% to 66% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.7
Avg class size
29.2
Infant (KS1)
28.4
KS2
23
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bushmead Primary & Nursery School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bushmead Primary & Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bushmead Primary & Nursery School is in Luton; for families living there:
- Luton's school travel policy: Travel assistance policy for 0 to 25 year olds in education
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 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 Luton is 28 (the median across 79 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 Bushmead Primary & Nursery School
Will you get a place at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bushmead Primary & Nursery School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bushmead Primary & Nursery School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bushmead Primary & Nursery School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Luton, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Luton 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
83%
Available places
699 pupils
840 places
141 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Luton
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Luton
Across Luton council
Places available
3,222
Applications
2,863
Got 1st preference
92.6%
Got preferred school
98.9%
All primary applications across Luton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
29
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
6.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
720
Total Pupils
362
Boys
358
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
21.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,867
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,095
Per pupil
£3889k
Total funding
£126k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
14.6%
Persistent absence
646
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
Questions parents ask about Bushmead Primary & Nursery School
What are SATs results like at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Of the pupils at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 81% did so in maths.
What is Bushmead Primary & Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When Bushmead Primary & Nursery School is oversubscribed, Luton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School was not full in 2025: it ran at 83% of its 840 places.
How big are the classes at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Classes at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School average 28.7 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School has around 720 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Bushmead Primary & Nursery School in 2024/25. 14.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Apply through Luton's coordinated admissions process, naming Bushmead Primary & Nursery School 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.
How many road collisions happen near Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 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 Luton is 28 (the median across 79 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bushmead Primary & Nursery School?
Bushmead Primary & Nursery School is at Bushmead Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU2 7EU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)