Elstow School
Abbey Fields, Bedford, MK42 9GP
413 pupils · 98% of 420 capacity
- Phase
- Primary
- Type
- Academy converter
- Ages
- 4–11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Does not apply
- Trust
- ADVANTAGE SCHOOLS
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Free school meals
- 21.1%
Ofsted
Standards maintained (2025) — Ungraded inspection — “Standards maintained” (no overall grade issued)
This school has not yet been inspected under the report-card system introduced in November 2025. When it is, this section will show a grade for each area — Ofsted says the new grades do not map onto the old ones, so we do not predict them.
Inspected 26 February 2025, published 2 April 2025. Read the full Ofsted report
England has three coexisting inspection systems — how we translate them into one signal.
Exam results
| Measure | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Reaching the expected standard in reading, writing & maths | 74% |
| Reaching the higher standard | 5% |
“Not published (small cohort)” means the DfE suppressed the figure to protect small cohorts — it is not a zero.
Will my child get in?
Usually has places available — 0.93 first-choice applications per place (Sept 2026 entry)
| Entry | Places | 1st preferences | Total preferences | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 entry | 42 | 39 | 89 | 42 |
| Sept 2025 entry | 58 | 49 | 82 | 58 |
| Sept 2024 entry | 53 | 48 | 84 | 53 |
| Sept 2023 entry | 60 | 60 | 101 | 60 |
| Sept 2022 entry | 60 | 61 | 109 | 60 |
| Sept 2021 entry | 54 | 46 | 87 | 53 |
| Sept 2020 entry | 60 | 55 | 100 | 60 |
| Sept 2019 entry | 60 | 67 | 135 | 60 |
First-choice demand varies year to year, and the school’s admission criteria — not demand — decide who is offered a place. Use this as a rough signal, never a prediction.
Nearby alternatives
- Shackleton Primary School 1.3 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
- King's Oak Primary School 1.4 km · Most areas: Strong standard (2026)
- Springfield Primary School 1.5 km · Good (2022) · previous system
- Camestone School 1.6 km · Good — confirmed 2022 · previous system
- Cauldwell School 1.6 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2025)
- Shortstown Primary School 2.3 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
Straight-line distance — not travel time, and not a catchment. Same phase, open schools only.
Data from DfE and Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources. School record updated 10 July 2026. Report incorrect data.