St John Rigby Catholic Primary School, Bedford

In its own words: "St John Rigby Catholic Primary School is located in the Putnoe area of Bedford. It is situated in beautiful, spacious grounds which provide the children with excellent open-air facilities for active learning as well as a natural resource for environmental work in the school."

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at St John Rigby Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 70% in reading and 61% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 16 families put St John Rigby Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 43 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 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 St John Rigby Catholic Primary School are Hazeldene School (0.3 miles, Good, 85% reading, 80% maths); The Hills Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 77% maths); Goldington Green Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 79% reading, 73% maths); and Brickhill Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 80% reading, 70% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St John Rigby Catholic Primary School.

St John Rigby Catholic Primary School is one of 12 schools run by Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust Ltd, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

11.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 29.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (32%), Black (30%) and Mixed (14%).

In 2026, 36 pupils (13.4%) received SEN support and 8 (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.

The nearest railway station is Bedford St Johns Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sidmouth Close (adjacent), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St John Rigby Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 294 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St John Rigby Catholic Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St John Rigby Catholic Primary School are Goldington Academy (0.2 miles), Castle Newnham School (0.4 miles), Mark Rutherford School (1.1 miles) and Bedford Free School (1.2 miles).