Laburnum Primary School, Sandy

From the headteacher's welcome: "My name is Ben Bardell and I am exceptionally proud to be the Headteacher at Laburnum Primary School, a school that prioritises personal development and wellbeing alongside academic achievements as part of a high quality education."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £6.00 per session.

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Laburnum Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 66% in Central Bedfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put Laburnum Primary School as their first choice and 47 named it as one of their preferences, for 21 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Laburnum Primary School are Robert Peel Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 79% maths); St Swithun's Church of England VC Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 50% reading, 42% maths); Maple Tree Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 79% reading, 71% maths); and John Donne Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, 59% reading, 35% maths).

Laburnum Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Laburnum Primary School is one of 10 schools run by Advantage Schools, an academy trust.

47 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Laburnum Primary School (as of April 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 71% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (71%).

3.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Asian (5%).

In 2026, 27 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 5 (2.9%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Laburnum Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Sandy Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Swan Lane (opposite), 170 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 99 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Laburnum Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.