Thurleigh Primary School, Bedford
Thurleigh Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bedford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 21st-highest of the 53 schools in Bedford with published results, and 8,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 73% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- 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
Thurleigh Primary School in detail
Thurleigh Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to Kymbrook and Thurleigh Federation - two friendly, nurturing, and vibrant village schools where children truly sit at the heart of everything we do. It is a privilege to lead two wonderful schools, where we share the same vision of, 'Working in partnership with families to unlock the potential of every individual."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Thurleigh Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 70% in Bedford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 80% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Thurleigh Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Thurleigh Primary School as their first choice and 9 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 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 Thurleigh Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Thurleigh Primary School are Kymbrook Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 92% reading, 75% maths); Milton Ernest CofE Primary School (2.6 miles, Good, 64% reading, 82% maths); Riseley CofE Primary School (3 miles, Good, 70% reading, 67% maths); and Ravensden CofE Primary Academy (3.1 miles, Good, 45% reading, 27% maths).
Thurleigh Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Kymbrook Primary SchoolMilton Ernest CofE Primary SchoolRiseley CofE Primary SchoolRavensden CofE Primary Academy
Who goes there
3.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (66%), Mixed (22%) and Black (8%).
In 2026, 14 pupils (15.2%) received SEN support and 2 (2.2%) 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 Thurleigh Primary School.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Peters Church (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 8 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).
Suspensions and exclusions
Thurleigh Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
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 April 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
28.3%
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 80% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 80% to 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.0
Avg class size
22.0
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Thurleigh Primary School
Term dates
Thurleigh Primary School is a foundation 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 Thurleigh Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Thurleigh 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
0 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 Thurleigh Primary School
Will you get a place at Thurleigh Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Thurleigh Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Thurleigh Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Thurleigh 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 Thurleigh 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
73%
Available places
77 pupils
105 places
28 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)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
14
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
17.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
92
Total Pupils
46
Boys
46
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
4
Teachers
23.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£40,291
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,570
Per pupil
£597k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.8%
Overall absence
20.6%
Persistent absence
68
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Thurleigh Primary School
What are SATs results like at Thurleigh Primary School?
Of the pupils at Thurleigh Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Thurleigh Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Thurleigh Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2021 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Thurleigh Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Thurleigh 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 Thurleigh Primary School?
Thurleigh Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 73% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Thurleigh Primary School?
Classes at Thurleigh Primary School average 23 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Thurleigh Primary School?
Thurleigh Primary School has around 92 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Thurleigh Primary School?
5.8% of sessions were missed at Thurleigh Primary School in 2024/25. 20.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Thurleigh Primary School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Thurleigh 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 Thurleigh Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 0 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 Thurleigh Primary School?
Thurleigh Primary School is at High Street, Thurleigh, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 2DB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)