Silsoe CofE VC Lower School, Bedford
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 9 in Bedford. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. It was 92% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- 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 Central Bedfordshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School in detail
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School in its own words
In its own words: "Our vision at Silsoe is for all to flourish as confident, resilient and kind individuals who encourage one another and grow together in God's love. "Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am immensely proud to be the Head Teacher at Silsoe VC Lower School and I am delighted to welcome you to our wonderful school. We are a friendly, nurturing, inclusive and successful school with high expectations for all of our pupils."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, tennis, dance, choir, guitar, art and forest school.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Silsoe CofE VC Lower School as their first choice and 57 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 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 Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Silsoe CofE VC Lower School are Greenfield CofE VC Lower School (1.5 miles, Good); St Mary's VA CofE Lower School (1.9 miles, Good); Maulden Lower School (2.1 miles, Good); and Gravenhurst Academy (2.1 miles, Outstanding).
Greenfield CofE VC Lower SchoolSt Mary's VA CofE Lower SchoolMaulden Lower SchoolGravenhurst Academy
Who goes there
8.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%) and Mixed (12%).
In 2026, 17 pupils (6.8%) received SEN support and 10 (4%) 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.
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School has a resourced provision (8 places, 0 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Flitwick Rail Station, about 2.8 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Co-op (opposite), 330 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Central Bedfordshire (47).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Silsoe CofE VC Lower School issued 17 suspensions, 6.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: 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 · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
8.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision and SEN unit: SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
24.3
Avg class size
23.8
Infant (KS1)
25.5
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
Newsletters - 25th September 2026
25 Sep 2026
Newsletters - 18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Newsletters - 11th September 2026
11 Sep 2026
Newsletters - 4th September 2026
4 Sep 2026
Newsletters - 17th July 2026
17 Jul 2026
Newsletters - 10th July 2026
10 Jul 2026
From Silsoe CofE VC Lower School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Silsoe CofE VC Lower School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Silsoe CofE VC Lower School 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
Will you get a place at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Silsoe CofE VC Lower School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Silsoe CofE VC Lower School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Silsoe CofE VC Lower School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Central Bedfordshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School 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
92%
Near capacity
277 pupils
300 places
23 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 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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
17
SEN Support
10
EHC Plans
10.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School has a resourced provision (8 places, 0 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
251
Total Pupils
127
Boys
124
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
14.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,138
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,003
Per pupil
£1533k
Total funding
£45k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
9.8%
Persistent absence
225
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
What is Silsoe CofE VC Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023. At its previous graded inspection in 2009 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
No fixed boundary. When Silsoe CofE VC Lower School 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 Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 300 places.
How big are the classes at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
Classes at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School average 24.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School has around 251 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Silsoe CofE VC Lower School have specialist SEN provision?
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School has a resourced provision (8 places, 0 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at Silsoe CofE VC Lower School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
Apply through Central Bedfordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Silsoe CofE VC Lower 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 Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Central Bedfordshire is 6 (the median across 135 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Silsoe CofE VC Lower School?
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School is at Chestnut Avenue, Silsoe, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK45 4GP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)