Elstow School, Bedford
Elstow School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bedford, part of Advantage Schools. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 53 schools in Bedford with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- 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
Elstow School in detail
Elstow School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are very proud of our pupils and work hard to ensure we create a warm, inclusive atmosphere where children are comfortable making mistakes, where they try their best and we ensure they learn how to behave in school and in society. We make sure they all know that they are part of 'Team Elstow'."
Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Bedford
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Elstow School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% 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 (82% in reading, 82% in maths).
Getting a place at Elstow School
For September 2026 entry, 39 families put Elstow School as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 42 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 Elstow School are Shackleton Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 63% reading, 66% maths); King's Oak Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 71% maths); Springfield Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 69% reading, 57% maths); and Camestone School (1 mile, Good, 67% reading, 52% maths).
Elstow School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Shackleton Primary SchoolKing's Oak Primary SchoolSpringfield Primary SchoolCamestone School
The trust
Elstow School is one of 10 schools run by Advantage Schools, an academy trust.
What parents say
56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Elstow School (as of September 2025): 96% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 90% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (98%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (79%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 64 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 8 (1.9%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elstow Lower School (opposite), 70 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Elstow School issued 8 suspensions, 1.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Elstow School are Bedford Academy (0.6 miles), Daubeney Academy (0.9 miles), Bedford Free School (1.4 miles) and Wixams Academy (1.8 miles).
Bedford AcademyDaubeney AcademyBedford Free SchoolWixams Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 November 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Elstow School excels at creating a calm, purposeful atmosphere where children feel safe and supported. Teachers set very high expectations and pupils respond by working hard and achieving well across all subjects. The school takes excellent care of all learners, including those with additional needs, ensuring they build their knowledge and skills progressively and gain independence.
Key Strengths
- Consistently high expectations for behaviour and learning across the school - pupils are focused, engaged and motivated learners
- Excellent teaching of phonics and reading with swift identification and support for pupils falling behind
- Strong support for pupils with SEND, who access learning with growing independence and make effective progress
- Transformed attendance culture with very regular pupil attendance and rare persistent absence
- Wide range of enriching afterschool clubs and educational visits that develop pupils' talents and interests
Areas for Improvement
- On rare occasions, some inconsistency in how teachers check pupils' learning, which may mean practice and rehearsal opportunities are not fully maximised
- Need to strengthen professional development to ensure all staff consistently implement the school's ambitious curriculum to the same high standard
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with pupils feeling secure and happy at school and knowing staff will help with any worries.
Extracurricular Activities
Crochet, choir, competitive sport, educational visits including Year 5 trip to London modern art museum
Elstow School has maintained its good standards and continues to provide high-quality education with excellent behaviour expectations and pupil wellbeing. The school has taken effective action to uphold the standards identified at its previous inspection.
At a Glance
21.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
56 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 82% to 87% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
29.8
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
12
Total classes
1 class 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 Elstow School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Elstow School.
- Premier Care Club - ElstowAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
Elstow School is an academy, 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 Elstow School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Elstow 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
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 4 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 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 Elstow School
Will you get a place at Elstow School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Elstow School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Elstow School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Elstow School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bedford, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Elstow School for 2017 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.
£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
99%
Near capacity
416 pupils
420 places
4 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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
64
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
17.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
413
Total Pupils
211
Boys
202
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
21.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,167
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,001
Per pupil
£2311k
Total funding
£123k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
11.5%
Persistent absence
366
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 Elstow School
What are SATs results like at Elstow School?
Of the pupils at Elstow School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 87% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Elstow School's Ofsted rating?
Elstow School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Elstow School?
No fixed boundary. When Elstow 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 Elstow School?
Elstow School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Elstow School?
Classes at Elstow School average 29.6 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 Elstow School?
Elstow School has around 413 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Elstow School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Elstow School in 2024/25. 11.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Elstow School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Elstow 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 Elstow School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Premier Care Club - Elstow (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 Elstow School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 4 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 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 Elstow School?
Elstow School is at Abbey Fields, Elstow, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9GP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)