Laburnum Primary School, Sandy

Inadequate
Primary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 311

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~620m)Possible (~886m)Unlikely (~1.2km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Ben Bardell
Pupils:174 / 240 capacity
LA:Central Bedfordshire
Phone:01767680691
Address:Laburnum Road, Sandy, SG19 1HQ
Trust:ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 March 2024

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 10 months ago
Inadequate

Overall

Requires Improvement

Quality of Education

Requires Improvement

Behaviour & Attitudes

Requires Improvement

Personal Development

Requires Improvement

Leadership & Management

Requires Improvement

Early Years

Inspected 18 November 2025View full report
URN:150629
UKPRN:10094494
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:North Bedfordshire
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Laburnum Primary School excels at creating a warm, supportive environment where pupils thrive. The school has successfully improved attendance and behaviour through clear expectations and caring relationships with families. Teaching is well-structured with strong early reading and maths programmes, and the school is genuinely inclusive with effective support for all pupils, including those with additional needs.

Key Strengths

  • Strong phonics teaching and early reading progress, with high proportions of pupils passing Year 1 phonics screening checks
  • Excellent attendance and behaviour improvements through systematic tracking and clear routines
  • Well-sequenced curriculum with clear oversight, helping pupils build knowledge step by step
  • Inclusive approach with targeted support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs
  • Strong leadership with ambitious vision and effective governance from trustees and governors

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils struggle to recall and explain previous learning in depth or work independently
  • Teaching approaches need further development in some subjects beyond early reading and mathematics to help pupils remember more over time
  • Need for more consistent checking of whether support is improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
  • Some pupils need more support with social skills and conversation turn-taking

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Outdoor pursuits including boating on residential trips, singing concerts, sports tournaments, swimming lessons (starting from early years)

Laburnum Primary School has made significant improvements since joining the multi-academy trust, with strong systems for attendance, behaviour, and teaching. Pupils generally achieve well across the school, reaching expected standards by Year 6.

At a Glance

25.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

Reading78%
Maths81%
Writing74%

2025/26 academic year

Class Sizes

24.8

Avg class size

22.0

Infant (KS1)

25.5

KS2

5

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Latest from Laburnum Primary School

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Social & online

Getting There

Train Stations

Sandy Rail Station
1.1km · 17 min walk

Bus Stops

Swan Lane (opp)
171m · 3 min walk
Recreation Ground (o/s)
182m · 3 min walk
Banks Drive (adj)
234m · 4 min walk
Church Path (adj)
299m · 5 min walk
Queen's Road (adj)
303m · 5 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

73%

Available places

174 pupils

240 capacity

66 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Sandy

Low pressure
New homes approved:698
Projected new pupils:175

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Sandy

Admissions Demand - Central Bedfordshire

Low demand0.86x oversubscription

Places available

4,163

Applications

3,574

Got 1st preference

90.0%

Got preferred school

97.0%

Primary admissions across Central Bedfordshire (2025/26)

Inspection History

18 November 2025
InadequateReport
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesRequires Improvement
Personal DevelopmentRequires Improvement
Leadership & ManagementRequires Improvement
Early YearsRequires Improvement

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SEN Provision

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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.

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School Funding

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

5.7872%

Overall absence

16.25%

Persistent absence

160

Enrolments

Authorised4.39618%
Unauthorised1.39102%
Persistent (10%+)16.25%
Severe (50%+)1.25%

Absence trend

7.24166%
23/24
5.7872%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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