Bedford’s state schools get lower results than 73% of towns in England
Reading, writing and maths at the expected standard: 57% of primary pupils in Bedford, above Bedfordshire’s towns (53%) but below towns in England (62%). 28 state-funded schools are located in Bedford’s built-up area. Bedford grades C for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #13 of 31 in Bedfordshire. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Town figures are pupil-weighted across the schools the grade uses; England’s are the average school.
School Grade
Bedford grades C for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (57% meet the standard)Better than 27% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (44.3 and 41%)Better than 36% of towns in England
Each of Bedford’s 20 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
Each of Bedford’s 6 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)
England’s average schoolBedford’s average school
The primary figure: 20 primaries in the town, 3,421 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 6 secondaries in the town, 1,119 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Bedford’s 28 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Bedford’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondary (named)Special, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table. The 7 secondaries are named.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 9% at The Hills Academy to 42% at King's Oak Primary School. Against schools with the same intake, Hazeldene School does best: 72% with 13% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 65%. 5 of 20 primaries and 3 of 6 secondaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Bedford
Bedford Council handles applications for every state school in Bedford, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 4 of Bedford’s 26 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 8 schools are at or over it.
Goldington128%
Queen's Park incl. nursery119%
Great Ouse incl. nursery108%
Bedford Free107%
The Hills incl. nursery105%
Priory incl. nursery104%
Livingstone incl. nursery103%
Shackleton101%
Brickhill100%
Scott incl. nursery99%
Show all 26 schools
Cauldwell99%
Bedford99%
Hazeldene incl. nursery98%
Elstow98%
Biddenham International School and Sports College95%
Edith Cavell incl. nursery93%
Mark Rutherford93%
St James'92%
Goldington Green incl. nursery91%
King's Oak incl. nursery88%
St Thomas More86%
Putnoe78%
Westfield incl. nursery75%
St John Rigby incl. nursery64%
St Francis of Assisi incl. nursery52%
Castle Newnham45%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
28 state schools in Bedford
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Bedford’s schoolsA3B5C14D42 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Outstanding 1Good 8Report card 8Ungraded inspection only 11
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 8 of Bedford’s 28 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust LtdSt Thomas More, St Francis of Assisi, St John Rigby
3
1,432
CDD
Advantage SchoolsBedford Free, Queen's Park, Elstow
3
1,395
A−C−B+
Leap Community TrustLivingstone, Edith Cavell, Priory
3
963
C−CD
Mark Rutherford School TrustMark Rutherford
1
1,150
C−
Goldington Academy TrustGoldington
1
958
A−
Bedfordshire Schools Trust LimitedCastle Newnham
1
624
B−
Putnoe Primary SchoolPutnoe
1
494
B−
Meridian TrustGreat Ouse
1
455
B+
Hills AcademyThe Hills
1
442
B
Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy TrustSt James'
1
194
C+
Bedford CouncilBiddenham International School and Sports College, King's Oak, Scott, Hazeldene, Westfield, Brickhill, Cherry Trees Nursery, Peter Pan Nursery
8
3,932
C−C+CA−C−C
After 16
Where Bedford’s teenagers go at 16
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
4 of Bedford’s 7 state secondaries have sixth forms: Bedford, Biddenham International School and Sports College, Mark Rutherford and St Thomas More. Bedford College, a further-education college, is in the large town.
Secondaries with a sixth form
4 of 7
state schools in Bedford
Colleges within 12 miles
1
nearest: Bedford College
Grammar schools in Bedford
0
no selective state secondaries
Towns its size
59th of 77 English towns and cities of 68,000 to 131,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns and cities either side of Bedford, and the top and bottom of the group.
Shortstown 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 2.2 mi
C
54%
45.7
Great Denham 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 2.3 mi
C−
55%
42.7
Clapham 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 2.5 mi
C
57%
44.9
Bromham 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 3.2 mi
C
57%
44.9
Oakley 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.5 mi
B
58%
50.4
Wixams 4 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.6 mi
C−
53%
43.1
Oakley has the best-graded schools nearby (B). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Bedford: 3% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Bedford
Are schools in Bedford good?
Bedford’s state schools earn a C against schools across England: primary results beat 27% of towns in England; secondary results beat 36% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Bedford council.
What is the best secondary school in Bedford?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, Goldington Academy: Attainment 8 of 52 and 60% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Bedford?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Hazeldene School: 72% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Bedford secondary schools have sixth forms?
4 of 7 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Bedford?
Through Bedford Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Bedford are full?
8 of 26 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Bedford?
28 open state-funded schools are located in Bedford’s built-up area: 20 primary, 7 secondary and 1 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
