Milton Ernest CofE Primary School, Bedford
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Bedford. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 26th-highest of the 53 schools in Bedford with published results, and 9,159th of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bedford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Milton Ernest CofE Primary 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.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put Milton Ernest CofE Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Milton Ernest CofE Primary School are Oakley Primary Academy (1.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 90% maths); Pinchmill Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 43% reading, 43% maths); Ursula Taylor Church of England School (2.4 miles, Good, 63% reading, 59% maths); and Thurleigh Primary School (2.6 miles, Good, 70% reading, 80% maths).
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Oakley Primary AcademyPinchmill Primary SchoolUrsula Taylor Church of England SchoolThurleigh Primary School
Who goes there
7.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%), Mixed (12%) and Asian (6%).
In 2026, 8 pupils (11.9%) received SEN support and 1 (1.5%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Staffing
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Milton Ernest CofE Primary School.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marsh Lane (opposite), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136).
Suspensions and exclusions
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2012 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
7.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
Class Sizes
16.8
Avg class size
9.0
Infant (KS1)
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
Term dates
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Bedford. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Milton Ernest CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Milton Ernest CofE Primary 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Milton Ernest CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Milton Ernest CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Milton Ernest CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Bedford, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School for 2014 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
68 pupils
84 places
16 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
13.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
67
Total Pupils
38
Boys
29
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
9.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,365
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,919
Per pupil
£541k
Total funding
£9k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
16.7%
Persistent absence
60
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
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Milton Ernest CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Milton Ernest CofE Primary 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 Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 84 places.
How big are the classes at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Classes at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School average 16.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School has around 67 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at Milton Ernest CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 16.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Milton Ernest CofE Primary 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.
What are Milton Ernest CofE Primary School's term dates?
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Bedford. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Milton Ernest CofE Primary School?
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School is at Thurleigh Road, Milton Ernest, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 1RF.
Sources: Bedford term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)