Edith Cavell Primary School, Bedford
Edith Cavell Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bedford, part of The Leap Community Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 30th-highest of the 53 schools in Bedford with published results, and 10,359th of 14,452 across England. It was 82% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- 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 Bedford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Edith Cavell Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Edith Cavell Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (73% in reading, 70% in maths).
Getting a place at Edith Cavell Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 30 families put Edith Cavell Primary School as their first choice and 76 named it as one of their preferences, for 33 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Edith Cavell Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Edith Cavell Primary School are Livingstone Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 80% maths); Great Ouse Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 82% reading, 76% maths); Priory Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 58% reading, 67% maths); and Scott Primary School & Nursery (0.8 miles, Good, 76% reading, 78% maths).
Edith Cavell Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Livingstone Primary SchoolGreat Ouse Primary AcademyPriory Primary SchoolScott Primary School & Nursery
The trust
Edith Cavell Primary School is one of 3 schools run by The Leap Community Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
28.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (31%), Black (19%) and Asian (14%).
In 2026, 58 pupils (19.9%) received SEN support and 8 (2.7%) 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 Bedford Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bedford Modern School (opposite), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 576 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 Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Edith Cavell Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 3.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Edith Cavell Primary School are Biddenham International School and Sports College (1.1 miles), St Thomas More Catholic School (1.1 miles), Castle Newnham School (1.1 miles) and Bedford Free School (1.2 miles).
Biddenham International School and Sports CollegeSt Thomas More Catholic SchoolCastle Newnham SchoolBedford Free 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
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 agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Edith Cavell Primary School creates a happy, safe environment where pupils thrive. With strong support for pupils with SEND and excellent behaviour standards, the school ensures every child knows what is expected. The school offers a rich curriculum with plenty of visits, visitors, and clubs to enhance learning beyond the classroom.
Key Strengths
- Pupils' behaviour is exemplary with strong respect and tolerance evident in all relationships
- Reading is given high priority with a well-invested library, consistent phonics teaching, and effective catch-up sessions for struggling readers
- Pupils with SEND are supported very well by a strong, well-trained team that ensures most achieve well
- Broad and interesting curriculum enhanced by visits, visitors, and practical activities
- High priority given to attendance and punctuality with improving results
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils sit waiting for others to finish without being challenged to deepen their learning
- Writing standards are inconsistent - pupils' handwriting, presentation, and basic writing skills (letter and number formation, pencil grip) do not always meet school policies
- Fewer pupils with SEND participate in the wide range of before- and after-school clubs, missing out on valuable experiences
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with a culture of vigilance that keeps everyone safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Before- and after-school clubs including daily breakfast club, sports activities, school visits, expert visitors, older pupils leading sports sessions for younger pupils
Edith Cavell Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils are happy, enjoy learning, and have their individual needs well catered for. Staff work hard to engage all families and maintain high expectations for achievement in core subjects.
At a Glance
31.5%
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 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 59% to 64% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
21.5
Avg class size
20.0
Infant (KS1)
24.8
KS2
13
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Edith Cavell Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Edith Cavell Primary School.
- Ultimate Activity Camps at Bedford Modern School250m away · Not yet graded
- Explore Learning Bedford890m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Edith Cavell Primary School is a foundation school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Bedford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Edith Cavell Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Edith Cavell Primary School is in Bedford; for families living there:
Apply to Bedford for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 32
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 5 serious and 26 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
9 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 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 Edith Cavell Primary School
Will you get a place at Edith Cavell Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Edith Cavell Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Edith Cavell Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Edith Cavell Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bedford, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Edith Cavell Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bedford 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
82%
Available places
258 pupils
315 places
57 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bedford
Across Bedford council
Places available
2,655
Applications
1,990
Got 1st preference
93.4%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Bedford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
58
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
22.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
292
Total Pupils
134
Boys
158
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
20.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,361
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,879
Per pupil
£1766k
Total funding
£109k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
17.2%
Persistent absence
268
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 Edith Cavell Primary School
What are SATs results like at Edith Cavell Primary School?
Of the pupils at Edith Cavell Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is Edith Cavell Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Edith Cavell Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Edith Cavell Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Edith Cavell Primary School is oversubscribed, Bedford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Edith Cavell Primary School?
Edith Cavell Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 82% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at Edith Cavell Primary School?
Classes at Edith Cavell Primary School average 21.5 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Edith Cavell Primary School?
Edith Cavell Primary School has around 292 pupils on roll. 32% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Edith Cavell Primary School?
5.2% of sessions were missed at Edith Cavell Primary School in 2024/25. 17.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Edith Cavell Primary School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Edith Cavell Primary 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.
Does Edith Cavell Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Edith Cavell Primary School: Ultimate Activity Camps at Bedford Modern School (250m away, registered, not yet graded) and Explore Learning Bedford (890m away, 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 Edith Cavell Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 32 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 5 serious and 26 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 9 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Edith Cavell Primary School?
Edith Cavell Primary School is at Manton Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7NH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)