Raynsford Church of England Academy, Henlow
Raynsford Church of England Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Henlow. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 51 schools in Central Bedfordshire with published results, and 941st of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.3 first-choice applications for every place. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Central Bedfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Raynsford Church of England Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 95% of Year 6 pupils at Raynsford Church of England Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 66% in Central Bedfordshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 86% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Raynsford Church of England Academy
For September 2026 entry, 40 families put Raynsford Church of England Academy as their first choice and 105 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Raynsford Church of England Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Raynsford Church of England Academy are Clifton All Saints Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 70% maths); Derwent Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 89% reading, 94% maths); Gothic Mede Academy (1.7 miles, Good); and Langford Village Academy (2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths).
Raynsford Church of England Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Clifton All Saints AcademyDerwent Primary SchoolGothic Mede AcademyLangford Village Academy
What parents say
73 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Raynsford Church of England Academy (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 69% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (69%).
Who goes there
9.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Mixed (9%).
In 2026, 27 pupils (11%) received SEN support and 18 (7.3%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Arlesey Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is War Memorial (opposite), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 24 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47).
Suspensions and exclusions
Raynsford Church of England Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Raynsford Church of England Academy are Henlow Church of England Academy (0.1 miles), Samuel Whitbread Academy (1.5 miles) and Etonbury Academy (1.8 miles).
Henlow Church of England AcademySamuel Whitbread AcademyEtonbury Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Raynsford is a caring school where children feel safe, happy and fully supported. The curriculum is well-designed with strong teaching in reading, writing and maths, and the school has excellent support systems for children with additional needs. Behaviour is consistently positive throughout the school, and children develop into thoughtful, responsible young people who understand the importance of respecting differences and contributing to their community.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with effective phonics programme ensuring pupils quickly develop fluency and independence
- Well-thought-out, ambitious curriculum with clear small steps for learning, especially in core subjects
- Excellent behaviour and positive attitudes to learning, with pupils understanding and willingly following the school's behaviour approach
- Highly effective support for pupils with SEND, who achieve well and feel they belong
- Strong provision for pupils' broader development including values education, democracy, and community involvement
Areas for Improvement
- Pupils in early stages of writing need more practice to develop fluent, legible handwriting so they can express their ideas with confidence
- Staff in wider curriculum subjects need more training and expertise to match learning activities better to what pupils already know
- Occasional over-complicated learning activities in wider curriculum that don't allow pupils to learn in sufficient depth
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Varied clubs, before and after-school clubs, reading ambassadors, elected positions of responsibility, charity fundraising
Raynsford Church of England Academy has maintained its good standards and made substantial improvements to the quality of education, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics. Pupils love their school, behave exceptionally well, and feel safe and valued.
At a Glance
9.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
73 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 86% to 95% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 86% to 90% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 86% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.9
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
29.8
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Raynsford Church of England Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Raynsford Church of England Academy.
- Henlow Premier Holiday Camp260m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Raynsford Church of England Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Raynsford Church of England Academy is in Central Bedfordshire; for families living there:
- Central Bedfordshire's school travel policy: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 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 Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 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 Raynsford Church of England Academy
Will you get a place at Raynsford Church of England Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Raynsford Church of England Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Raynsford Church of England Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Raynsford Church of England Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Central Bedfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Raynsford Church of England Academy for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Central Bedfordshire 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
97%
Near capacity
203 pupils
210 places
7 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Henlow
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Henlow
Across Central Bedfordshire council
Places available
4,158
Applications
3,678
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across Central Bedfordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
27
SEN Support
18
EHC Plans
18.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
246
Total Pupils
119
Boys
127
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
24.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,945
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,016
Per pupil
£1113k
Total funding
£21k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.6%
Overall absence
2.9%
Persistent absence
175
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
Raynsford Church of England Academy
Questions parents ask about Raynsford Church of England Academy
What are SATs results like at Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Of the pupils at Raynsford Church of England Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 95% reached the expected standard in reading and 90% did so in maths.
What is Raynsford Church of England Academy's Ofsted rating?
Raynsford Church of England Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Raynsford Church of England Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Raynsford Church of England Academy is oversubscribed, Central Bedfordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Raynsford Church of England Academy was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Classes at Raynsford Church of England Academy average 28.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Raynsford Church of England Academy has around 246 pupils on roll. 10% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Raynsford Church of England Academy?
3.6% of sessions were missed at Raynsford Church of England Academy in 2024/25. 2.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Apply through Central Bedfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Raynsford Church of England Academy 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.
Does Raynsford Church of England Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Raynsford Church of England Academy: Henlow Premier Holiday Camp (260m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 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 Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Raynsford Church of England Academy?
Raynsford Church of England Academy is at Park Lane, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6AT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)