Shortstown Primary School, Bedford

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades Shortstown Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well overall."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are acutely aware of the importance of high attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the last inspection, leaders have strengthened the curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have reviewed and refined the early years curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders check whether pupils have any barriers to learning as soon as they join the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "In the last year, there have been a number of changes in staffing, particularly among teachers."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme prepares pupils well for their next steps in education and for life in modern Britain."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that they support staff to further develop their use of in-lesson assessment opportunities and adapt their teaching in response to these checks so that pupils' gaps in knowledge, errors and misconceptions are effectively addressed. • Leaders should continue to drive further improvement in pupils' attainment, particularly in phonics, by securing more consistently high-quality teaching across the school".

In its own words: "Shortstown is an inclusive school which has a positive impact on children’s life long learning and achievement, through high expectations, in a creative and motivating environment. Main School Years 1 to Year 6: Gates open from 8.45am to 8.50am, registration 8.55am. Collection 3.25pm (from September 2024) We follow the National Curriculum here at Shortstown."

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Shortstown Primary School we believe that ‘Every Child truly does Matter’ and as a result have an unrelenting focus on raising standards in all aspects of school life, so that each student can develop their talents and be the best that they can be."

The school runs after-school care.

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

Results rose from 67% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 56 families put Shortstown Primary School as their first choice and 103 named it as one of their preferences, for 56 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 Shortstown Primary School are King's Oak Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 73% reading, 71% maths); Cotton End Forest School (1.2 miles, Requires improvement, 93% reading, 83% maths); Elstow School (1.4 miles, Good, 87% reading, 82% maths); and Shackleton Primary School (1.6 miles, Good, 63% reading, 66% maths).

Shortstown Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Shortstown 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.

24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Shortstown Primary School (as of April 2026): 71% would recommend the school, 75% 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 (75%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

In 2026, 120 pupils (25.1%) received SEN support and 27 (5.6%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Crescent (opposite), 40 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 61 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136).

In 2024/25, Shortstown Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.