King's Oak Primary School, Bedford

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades King's Oak Primary School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed the curriculum with pupils' needs in mind."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have established robust systems and procedures for identifying pupils' needs quickly."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders know their school inside out."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have carefully designed a programme for personal development that meets the needs of the school community."

Achievement - Expected standard. "The school's published outcomes in national tests at the end of Year 6 have improved in recent years and are now close to national averages."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are tenacious in their efforts to drive up attendance and their work is bearing fruit."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure they continue to drive up achievement in all subjects, maintaining high standards of teaching throughout the school that enable pupils to develop secure knowledge and produce high-quality work in all subjects"; "Leaders should ensure that their work to support pupils and their families to overcome barriers to attendance raises attendance rates overall and reduces the number of pupils who are persistently absent from school".

In its own words: "Through our core ethos of Excellence and Citizenship we aim to meet the needs of our children and the community we serve. Here at King's Oak we want our children to embrace and uphold our school values to become the best they can be."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to King's Oak Primary School, an exciting and unique place to learn. We combine high expectations for everyone with a carefully designed learning environment that put children at the core of all we do. Our staff are committed to ensure that our ethos of ' Excellence and Citizenship' supports all pupils to thrive and reach their full potential."

In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at King's Oak Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% 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 (72% in reading, 69% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 74 families put King's Oak Primary School as their first choice and 136 named it as one of their preferences, for 75 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to King's Oak Primary School are Shackleton Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 63% reading, 66% maths); Elstow School (0.9 miles, Good, 87% reading, 82% maths); Cauldwell School (1 mile, Good, 87% reading, 92% maths); and Shortstown Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 75% reading, 77% maths).

King's Oak Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

39% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 61.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (26%), White British (23%) and Black (15%).

In 2026, 130 pupils (15.7%) received SEN support and 56 (6.8%) 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.

King's Oak Primary School has a resourced provision for autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 15 places, 15 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Oak Road (adjacent), 220 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 373 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences 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, King's Oak Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to King's Oak Primary School are Bedford Academy (0.3 miles), Bedford Free School (1 mile), Castle Newnham School (1.2 miles) and Goldington Academy (1.5 miles).