Cotton End Forest School, Bedford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Cotton End Forest School stands out for its unique outdoor learning approach that makes pupils love coming to school and builds their confidence through practical activities like climbing and shelter-building. Pupils make good progress across most subjects with strong achievement in reading, and the school provides excellent support for children with additional needs. The school has successfully improved from its previous rating and now offers a well-planned curriculum where knowledge builds securely.
Key Strengths
- Outstanding outdoor education programme that builds confidence, creativity and life skills through woodland-based learning -
- Strong reading teaching with high achievement standards, supported by effective phonics instruction -
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND who make strong progress with well-adapted teaching -
- Well-designed ambitious curriculum that builds pupils' knowledge progressively -
- Strong behaviour and positive school culture where pupils feel safe and settled
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers need clearer guidance on how to check what pupils understand in lessons and give prompt feedback to prevent knowledge gaps -
- Early writing expectations lack ambition - some pupils do not develop secure letter formation and handwriting skills needed for progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders creating an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Outdoor woodland learning, anti-bullying ambassador leadership roles, personal, social, health and economic education curriculum
Cotton End Forest School is a primary school that has made significant improvements since its last inspection. The school is rated Good across all key areas, with pupils thriving in its distinctive outdoor learning environment.
At a Glance
17.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
106 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 93%. Maths has improved from 77% to 83%. Writing has improved from 59% to 77%.
Class Sizes
29.9
Avg class size
28.5
Infant (KS1)
28.7
KS2
14
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
69%
Available places
435 pupils
630 capacity
195 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(8)
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.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
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
4.71779%
Overall absence
9.34579%
Persistent absence
321
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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