Great Ouse Primary Academy, Bedford

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Great Ouse Primary Academy on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders monitor pupils' attendance carefully."

Early years - Strong standard. "Early years leaders demonstrate clear passion about the work they do to enhance children's learning."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school quickly identifies pupils who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing, including those who are disadvantaged, pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and those known to social care."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's personal development programme and pastoral care are well planned alongside the curriculum."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Over time, pupils achieve highly in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of the curriculum and how it meets pupils' needs."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "There is clear strategic leadership across the school, overseen effectively by the trust."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that all pupils' individual targets and adaptations are sharply focused and precise so that pupils with gaps in their foundational knowledge make increased progress"; "Leaders should ensure a consistently effective approach to teaching and to the quality of work produced across the school"; "Leaders should refine analysis of disadvantaged pupils' gaps in learning to ensure greater precision and enabling more targeted support for a small group of pupils".

From the headteacher's welcome: "A warm welcome to Great Ouse Primary Academy in Bedford, a proud member of the Meridian Trust. I am honoured to lead this inclusive and vibrant school, where children are the heart of every decision. Our bright, modern learning environment, equipped with up-to-date technology and expansive outdoor spaces, provides a stimulating place to learn, play and grow."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, French and homework club.

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Great Ouse Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 88% in reading and 94% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 63 families put Great Ouse Primary Academy as their first choice and 125 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 8 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Great Ouse Primary Academy are St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School (0.4 miles, Good, 67% reading, 63% maths); Queen's Park Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 84% reading, 79% maths); Livingstone Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 67% reading, 80% maths); and Edith Cavell Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths).

Great Ouse Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Great Ouse Primary Academy is one of 36 schools run by Meridian Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

32.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (39%), White British (27%) and Mixed (11%).

The nearest railway station is Bedford Rail Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Biddenham Turn (opposite), 330 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 427 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Great Ouse Primary Academy issued 8 suspensions, 1.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Great Ouse Primary Academy are Biddenham International School and Sports College (0.6 miles), Bedford Free School (1.3 miles), Castle Newnham School (1.6 miles) and St Thomas More Catholic School (1.7 miles).