Shackleton Primary School, Bedford

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Shackleton Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders' work to improve attendance is having a positive impact."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a curriculum intended to build pupils' knowledge and skills progressively over time."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children typically join the early years with skills and knowledge below those expected for their age, particularly in communication and language."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an inclusive culture in which pupils are known well and supported appropriately."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders provide clear direction and have established a positive culture across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a broad and inclusive programme to support pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Although there have been recent improvements, pupils' achievement in reading, writing and mathematics does not meet national expectations."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should improve pupils' achievement in reading, writing and mathematics so that more pupils meet national expectations and securely remember and apply their learning over time. • Leaders should ensure that the clarity and consistency evident in the core subjects are embedded across all subjects so that pupils build and retain knowledge securely across the wider curriculum. • Leaders should strengthen the precision of support for pupils with increased special educational needs and/or disabilities so that learning is closely aligned to individual needs and targets. • Governors should strengthen their strategic oversight so that they evaluate the impact of leaders' actions more rigorously and hold leaders to account for pupils' outcomes".

In its own words: "At Shackleton Primary School we seek to ensure that all our pupils receive a full-time education which gives the best possible opportunities for each pupil to realise their true potential. We strive to provide a welcoming, caring environment, in which each member of the school community feels valued and secure."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Shackleton Primary School, we believe our children will thrive in an environment where they feel happy, safe, valued and respected. We want our children to be motivated by learning and to be offered the best opportunities that we can provide. In school, both staff and children follow ‘The Shackleton Way’, which is Ready, Respecful and Safe ."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Shackleton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 66% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (67% in reading, 66% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Shackleton Primary School as their first choice and 148 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Shackleton Primary School are King's Oak Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 71% maths); Cauldwell School (0.5 miles, Good, 87% reading, 92% maths); Elstow School (0.8 miles, Good, 87% reading, 82% maths); and Camestone School (1.1 miles, Good, 67% reading, 52% maths).

Shackleton Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Shackleton Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Heart Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

61 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shackleton Primary School (as of April 2026): 85% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

34.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 59.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (30%), White British (20%) and Black (14%).

The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 670 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Angel (opposite), 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Shackleton Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 644 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Shackleton Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Shackleton Primary School are Bedford Academy (0.5 miles), Bedford Free School (0.6 miles), Castle Newnham School (1.1 miles) and Daubeney Academy (1.2 miles).