Wilden CofE VA Primary School, Bedford
Wilden CofE VA Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bedford. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 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 42% 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 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bedford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Wilden CofE VA Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Wilden CofE VA Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 75% 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 Wilden CofE VA Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 11 families put Wilden CofE VA Primary School as their first choice and 23 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Wilden CofE VA Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Wilden CofE VA Primary School are Ravensden CofE Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 45% reading, 27% maths); Renhold VC Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 68% reading, 61% maths); Putnoe Primary School (2.4 miles, Good, 74% reading, 71% maths); and Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy (2.8 miles, Good, 66% reading, 60% maths).
Wilden CofE VA Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Ravensden CofE Primary AcademyRenhold VC Primary SchoolPutnoe Primary SchoolGreat Barford Church of England Primary Academy
Who goes there
11.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 4 pupils (8.9%) received SEN support and 3 (6.7%) 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.
Staffing
Wilden CofE VA Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 7 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Wilden CofE VA Primary School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wilden Primary School (nw-bound), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Bedford (136).
Suspensions and exclusions
Wilden CofE VA 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; DfE school workforce census; 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are proud of their school. They consider it a family. Pupils take responsibility for helping and supporting each other. A wide range of well-considered opportunities supports pupils and children in early years to flourish. Trips and visitors help to broaden pupils' horizons and think about future careers. For example, pupils have visited universities, worked with engineers designing rockets and enjoyed a trip to London.
Staff have high expectations of what they want pupils to know. Pupils are eager to talk about what they have learned. They make connections between learning in different subjects. Pupils achieve well in national tests and assessments. Pupils benefit from purposeful and meticulously planned outdoor learning activities. Here they develop curiosity, cooperation and take risks.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has revised its curriculum. Pupils study a wide range of subjects. In each subject, the school sets out the knowledge that pupils should learn. Leaders have carefully designed opportunities for pupils to make connections in what they learn through broad topics. This means pupils revisit important knowledge so they remember it more easily.
The school has a highly effective early years curriculum. Staff deliver this skilfully, building on children's interests. They ensure activities support children to make very strong progress in all areas of learning. Staff know exactly what children already know. As a result, children are very well prepared for learning in Year 1.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
11.1%
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 75% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 80% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 80% to 75% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
7.5
Avg class size
6.5
Infant (KS1)
9.0
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Wilden CofE VA Primary School
Term dates
Wilden CofE VA Primary School is a voluntary aided 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 Wilden CofE VA Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Wilden CofE VA 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)
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 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 Wilden CofE VA Primary School
Will you get a place at Wilden CofE VA Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Wilden CofE VA Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Wilden CofE VA Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Wilden CofE VA 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 Wilden CofE VA 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
42%
Available places
35 pupils
84 places
49 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(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
4
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
15.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
45
Total Pupils
24
Boys
21
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
9.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,764
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£11,076
Per pupil
£389k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.4%
Overall absence
17.9%
Persistent absence
28
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Wilden CofE VA Primary School
What are SATs results like at Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
Of the pupils at Wilden CofE VA Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Wilden CofE VA Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Wilden CofE VA Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2018 it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Wilden CofE VA 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 Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
Wilden CofE VA Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 42% of its 84 places.
How big are the classes at Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
Classes at Wilden CofE VA Primary School average 7.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
Wilden CofE VA Primary School has around 45 pupils on roll. 11% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
5.4% of sessions were missed at Wilden CofE VA Primary School in 2024/25. 17.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
Apply through Bedford's coordinated admissions process, naming Wilden CofE VA 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 Wilden CofE VA Primary 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 Bedford is 6 (the median across 85 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Wilden CofE VA Primary School?
Wilden CofE VA Primary School is at High Street, Wilden, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 2PB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)