Riseley CofE Primary School, Bedford
Riseley CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bedford. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 31st-highest of the 53 schools in Bedford with published results, and 10,901st of 14,452 across England. It was 72% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bedford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Riseley CofE Primary School in detail
Riseley CofE Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Our overarching vision is for every member of the school community at Riseley Church of England Primary School to 'flourish fully in life and learning'."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Riseley Church of England Primary School is situated in Riseley Village in North Bedfordshire. We are a single form entry Primary School which also has a superb Nursery, run by our dedicated and hardworking staff."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Riseley CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 86% in reading and 57% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Riseley CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 10 families put Riseley CofE Primary School as their first choice and 16 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 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 Riseley CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Riseley CofE Primary School are Kymbrook Primary School (2.6 miles, Good, 92% reading, 75% maths); Eileen Wade Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 60% reading, 60% maths); Thurleigh Primary School (3 miles, Good, 70% reading, 80% maths); and Sharnbrook Primary (3.9 miles, Good, 90% reading, 80% maths).
Riseley CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Kymbrook Primary SchoolEileen Wade Primary SchoolThurleigh Primary SchoolSharnbrook Primary
Who goes there
9.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 9 pupils (7.4%) received SEN support and 7 (5.8%) 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.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Riseley CofE Primary School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Margaret Beaufort School (outside), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Riseley CofE Primary School issued 9 suspensions, 5.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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; 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
9.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 57% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 61% to 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
16.5
Avg class size
16.7
Infant (KS1)
16.3
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Riseley CofE Primary School
Term dates
Riseley CofE Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Bedford's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Riseley CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Riseley 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 Riseley CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Riseley CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Riseley CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Riseley CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Riseley 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 Riseley 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
72%
Available places
142 pupils
196 places
54 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(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
9
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
13.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
121
Total Pupils
56
Boys
65
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
15.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,710
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,639
Per pupil
£900k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
8.3%
Persistent absence
132
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Riseley CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Riseley CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Riseley CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Riseley CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Riseley CofE Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024.
What is the catchment area for Riseley CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Riseley 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 Riseley CofE Primary School?
Riseley CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 72% of its 196 places.
How big are the classes at Riseley CofE Primary School?
Classes at Riseley CofE Primary School average 16.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Riseley CofE Primary School?
Riseley CofE Primary School has around 121 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Riseley CofE Primary School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Riseley CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 8.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Riseley CofE Primary School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Riseley 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.
How many road collisions happen near Riseley CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Riseley CofE Primary School?
Riseley CofE Primary School is at High Street, Riseley, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 1DR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)