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Education in Bedford

Unitary authority

The west of the East of England. 196,398 people (mid-2025 estimate) in 476 square kilometres.

2 layers about education for Bedford, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Schools by council

Worked out by Open Index · 2026

Under 25250 or more

Bedford had 85 open schools in 2026, from nurseries to sixth form colleges.

Number of schools

CouncilGreat Britain only
85
Worked out by Open Index · 2026

Bedford had 85 open schools in 2026, from nurseries to sixth form colleges.

Worked out by Open Index from the school lists of the Department for Education, the Welsh Government and the Scottish Government.

Open in mapSource and method
Number of schools: Bedford among every council350 areas from 1 to 510. The middle area is 68. Bedford is 85.

Schools

Exact pointGreat Britain only

Published as points, so there is no single figure for Bedford. The map shows each one.

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Schools in Bedford

Bedford has 85 open schools: 2 nursery, 54 primary, 13 secondary, 1 all-through, 5 special, 2 sixth form and further education, 7 independent and 1 pupil referral and alternative provision.

Outstanding
2
Good
25
Requires improvement
0
Inadequate
0

27 of the 73 schools in Ofsted's file have an overall grade from a graded inspection between January 2020 and July 2024.

15 schools have a report card from the renewed framework (from November 2025), which gives no overall grade.

13 schools had a graded inspection from September 2024, when Ofsted stopped giving an overall grade.

Ofsted says grades from different frameworks can't be compared, and an old grade may not describe a school today. Latest inspections as at 30 September 2026.

Schools rated Outstanding in Bedford

2 schools had Outstanding as the overall grade at their latest graded inspection, which is the date given. A later ungraded inspection, shown in the table, may say more.

Great Denham Primary School (May 2024), Bedford Free School (January 2020).

Nursery (2)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspection
Cherry Trees Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school2 to 5147Standards maintained, November 2024
Peter Pan Nursery SchoolLocal authority nursery school2 to 5118School remains Outstanding, April 2023

Primary (54)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspectionResults (KS2 2024/25)
Balliol Primary SchoolCommunity school2 to 11355Good (overall), July 202239% met KS2 standard
Bedford Road Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led5 to 11365Report card, December 2025: safeguarding met46% met KS2 standard
Brickhill Primary SchoolCommunity school5 to 11209School remains Good, February 202457% met KS2 standard
Broadmead Lower SchoolCommunity school4 to 9228Good (overall), June 2023
Bromham CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school4 to 11496School remains Good, March 202374% met KS2 standard
Camestone SchoolCommunity school4 to 11408School remains Good, September 202248% met KS2 standard
Carlton CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school2 to 1187Graded inspection, November 2024: no overall grade67% met KS2 standard
Cauldwell SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11415Report card, November 2025: safeguarding met74% met KS2 standard
Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school4 to 1170School remains Good, June 202446% met KS2 standard
Cotton End Forest SchoolCommunity school2 to 11435Graded inspection, May 2025: no overall grade77% met KS2 standard
Edith Cavell Primary SchoolFoundation school3 to 11292School remains Good, July 202458% met KS2 standard
Eileen Wade Primary SchoolFoundation school4 to 1170Report card, December 2025: safeguarding met60% met KS2 standard
Elstow SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11413Standards maintained, February 202574% met KS2 standard
Goldington Green AcademyAcademy converter2 to 11576Graded inspection, January 2025: no overall grade62% met KS2 standard
Great Barford Church of England Primary AcademyAcademy converter3 to 11176Good (overall), September 20220% met KS2 standard
Great Denham Primary SchoolFoundation school3 to 11677Outstanding (overall), May 202472% met KS2 standard
Great Ouse Primary AcademyFree schools3 to 11455Report card, June 2026: safeguarding met67% met KS2 standard
Harrold Primary AcademyAcademy converter4 to 1196Good (overall), September 202381% met KS2 standard
Hazeldene SchoolFoundation school3 to 11443Standards maintained, October 202475% met KS2 standard
Kempston Rural Primary SchoolCommunity school5 to 11439Good (overall), November 202367% met KS2 standard
King's Oak Primary SchoolCommunity school1 to 11826Report card, May 2026: safeguarding met61% met KS2 standard
Kymbrook Primary SchoolFoundation school2 to 1176School remains Good, July 202475% met KS2 standard
Lakeview SchoolAcademy converter3 to 11436Good (overall), October 2022, before the school changed
Livingstone Primary SchoolFoundation school2 to 11457Good (overall), March 202349% met KS2 standard
Milton Ernest CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school4 to 1167School remains Good, November 202255% met KS2 standard
Oakley Primary AcademyAcademy converter4 to 11210Graded inspection, October 2024: no overall grade63% met KS2 standard
Pinchmill Primary SchoolFoundation school2 to 1188Graded inspection, May 2025: no overall grade29% met KS2 standard
Priory Primary SchoolFoundation school3 to 11214Graded inspection, November 2024: no overall grade50% met KS2 standard
Putnoe Primary SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11494Good (overall), July 202457% met KS2 standard
Queen's Park AcademyAcademy converter2 to 11446Good (overall), May 202261% met KS2 standard
Ravensden CofE Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led2 to 1151Good (overall), July 20239% met KS2 standard
Renhold VC Primary SchoolVoluntary controlled school3 to 11191Graded inspection, February 2025: no overall grade43% met KS2 standard
Riseley CofE Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school3 to 11121Good (overall), March 202456% met KS2 standard
Roxton Church of England AcademyAcademy sponsor led3 to 1170Good (overall), April 202327% met KS2 standard
Scott Primary School & NurseryCommunity school3 to 11469School remains Good, June 202459% met KS2 standard
Shackleton Primary SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11487Report card, January 2026: safeguarding met54% met KS2 standard
Sharnbrook PrimaryAcademy converter3 to 11216Good (overall), June 202470% met KS2 standard
Sheerhatch Primary SchoolCommunity school4 to 11129Report card, January 2026: safeguarding met50% met KS2 standard
Shortstown Primary SchoolAcademy converter2 to 11479Report card, February 2026: safeguarding met60% met KS2 standard
Springfield Primary SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11365Good (overall), June 202251% met KS2 standard
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-SchoolAcademy converter3 to 11271Good (overall), October 202344% met KS2 standard
St James' CofE AcademyAcademy converter5 to 11194Standards maintained, February 202554% met KS2 standard
St John Rigby Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter3 to 11268Good (overall), September 202349% met KS2 standard
St Lawrence Church of England Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school3 to 11123Report card, April 2026: safeguarding met68% met KS2 standard
The Hills AcademyAcademy converter3 to 11442Standards maintained, March 2025Good (overall), February 202063% met KS2 standard
Thurleigh Primary SchoolFoundation school3 to 1192Good (overall), April 202450% met KS2 standard
Turvey Primary SchoolFoundation school5 to 1181School remains Good, November 202271% met KS2 standard
Ursula Taylor Church of England SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11350Graded inspection, April 2025: no overall grade35% met KS2 standard
Westfield Primary SchoolCommunity school3 to 11298Report card, June 2026: safeguarding met48% met KS2 standard
Wilden CofE VA Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school2 to 1145Good (overall), July 202463% met KS2 standard
Willow Grove Primary SchoolFree schools4 to 11104No outcome in Ofsted's file
Wilstead Primary SchoolAcademy converter4 to 11Good (overall), October 2023, before the school changed
Wixams Tree Primary AcademyFree schools4 to 11559Good (overall), April 202460% met KS2 standard
Wootton Primary SchoolAcademy converter3 to 11731School remains Good, March 2024

Secondary (13)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspectionResults (KS2 2024/25, KS4 2025/26)
Bedford AcademyAcademy sponsor led11 to 181,480Good (overall), March 2023Attainment 8: 44.4
Bedford Free SchoolFree schools11 to 16536Standards maintained, April 2025Outstanding (overall), January 2020Attainment 8: 51.0
Biddenham International School and Sports CollegeFoundation school11 to 181,422Standards maintained, November 2024Attainment 8: 40.3
Daubeney AcademyAcademy converter11 to 16576Graded inspection, July 2025: no overall gradeAttainment 8: 46.1
Goldington AcademyAcademy converter11 to 16958Report card, May 2026: safeguarding metAttainment 8: 52.0
Kempston AcademyAcademy sponsor led11 to 18773Standards maintained, October 2024Attainment 8: 38.4
Lincroft AcademyAcademy converter11 to 16923Graded inspection, December 2024: no overall gradeAttainment 8: 50.4
Mark Rutherford SchoolAcademy converter11 to 181,150Report card, November 2025: safeguarding metAttainment 8: 40.7
Marston Vale Middle SchoolAcademy converter9 to 13563Graded inspection, October 2024: no overall grade54% met KS2 standard
Sharnbrook AcademyAcademy converter11 to 181,684Graded inspection, February 2025: no overall gradeAttainment 8: 47.7
St Thomas More Catholic SchoolAcademy converter11 to 18893Good (overall), October 2023Attainment 8: 41.0
Wixams AcademyFree schools11 to 19903Report card, March 2026: safeguarding metAttainment 8: 43.9
Wootton AcademyAcademy converter11 to 19822Graded inspection, November 2024: no overall gradeAttainment 8: 44.8

All-through (1)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspectionResults (KS2 2024/25)
Castle Newnham SchoolAcademy converter4 to 16624Report card, March 2026: safeguarding met67% met KS2 standard

Special (5)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspection
Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge SchoolOther independent special school7 to 1910No outcome in Ofsted's file
Grange AcademyAcademy special converter5 to 18161Report card, June 2026: safeguarding met
Ridgeway SchoolCommunity special school2 to 19125Standards maintained, April 2025
Rivertree Free SchoolFree schools special2 to 19126No outcome in Ofsted's file
St John's SchoolAcademy special converter2 to 19178Good (overall), September 2023

Sixth form and further education (2)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspection
Bedford CollegeFurther education16 to 99Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem CollegeFree schools 16 to 1916 to 19749Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file

Independent (7)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspection
Bedford Girls' SchoolOther independent school7 to 18843Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
Bedford Greenacre Independent SchoolOther independent school0 to 18775Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
Bedford Modern SchoolOther independent school7 to 181,219Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
Bedford SchoolOther independent school7 to 19994Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
KWS SchoolOther independent school11 to 1818Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory SchoolOther independent school0 to 7297Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file
Polam SchoolOther independent school1 to 999Not in Ofsted's state-funded schools file

Pupil referral and alternative provision (1)

SchoolTypeAgesPupilsLatest Ofsted inspection
Greys Education CentreAcademy alternative provision converter5 to 1657Good (overall), February 2024

Ofsted inspects state-funded schools; independent schools and colleges are inspected separately and show no outcome here.

Source: Get Information About Schools (Department for Education), edubasealldata20261015.csv; Ofsted, latest inspections as at 30 September 2026.