Schools in Bedford
85 open schools in this local authority, ranked by their latest Ofsted signal. How the signal works — three inspection systems currently coexist, so treat it as a guide, not a verdict.
Secondary (14)
| School | Ofsted | Ages | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedford Free School Free schools | Outstanding (2020) · previous system | 11–16 | Oversubscribed (2026 entry) |
| Goldington Academy Academy converter | Most areas: Strong standard (2026) | 11–16 | Oversubscribed (2026 entry) |
| Bedford Academy Academy sponsor led | Good (2023) · previous system | 11–18 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Castle Newnham School Academy converter | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 11–16 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Mark Rutherford School Academy converter | Most areas: Expected standard (2025) | 11–18 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| St Thomas More Catholic School Academy converter | Good (2023) · previous system | 11–18 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Wixams Academy Free schools | Most areas: Expected standard (2026) | 11–19 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Biddenham International School and Sports College Foundation school | Standards maintained (2024) | 11–18 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Daubeney Academy Academy converter | No overall grade (2025) | 11–16 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Kempston Academy Academy sponsor led | Standards maintained (2024) | 11–18 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Lincroft Academy Academy converter | No overall grade (2024) | 11–16 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Marston Vale Middle School Academy converter | No overall grade (2024) | 9–13 | — |
| Sharnbrook Academy Academy converter | No overall grade (2025) | 11–18 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Wootton Academy Academy converter | No overall grade (2024) | 13–18 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
Primary (54)
| School | Ofsted | Ages | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Denham Primary School Foundation school | Outstanding (2024) · previous system | 3–11 | Oversubscribed (2026 entry) |
| King's Oak Primary School Community school | Most areas: Strong standard (2026) | 1–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Balliol Primary School Community school | Good (2022) · previous system | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Bedford Road Primary Academy Academy sponsor led | Most areas: Expected standard (2025) | 5–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Brickhill Primary School Community school | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 5–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Bromham CofE Primary School Voluntary controlled school | Good — confirmed 2023 · previous system | 4–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Camestone School Community school | Good — confirmed 2022 · previous system | 4–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Castle Newnham School Academy converter | Most areas: Expected standard (2026) | 4–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Cauldwell School Academy converter | Most areas: Expected standard (2025) | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School Voluntary aided school | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Edith Cavell Primary School Foundation school | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Eileen Wade Primary School Foundation school | Most areas: Expected standard (2025) | 4–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy Academy converter | Good (2022) · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Great Ouse Primary Academy Free schools | Good (2022) · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Harrold Primary Academy Academy converter | Good (2023) · previous system | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Kempston Rural Primary School Community school | Good (2023) · previous system | 5–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Kymbrook Primary School Foundation school | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Lakeview School Academy converter | Good (2022) · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Livingstone Primary School Foundation school | Good (2023) · previous system | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Milton Ernest CofE Primary School Voluntary controlled school | Good — confirmed 2022 · previous system | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Putnoe Primary School Academy converter | Good (2024) · previous system | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Queen's Park Academy Academy converter | Good (2022) · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Ravensden CofE Primary Academy Academy sponsor led | Good (2023) · previous system | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Riseley CofE Primary School Voluntary aided school | Good (2024) · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Roxton Church of England Academy Academy sponsor led | Good (2023) · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Scott Primary School & Nursery Community school | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Shackleton Primary School Academy converter | Most areas: Expected standard (2026) | 4–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Sharnbrook Primary Academy converter | Good (2024) · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Shortstown Primary School Academy converter | Most areas: Expected standard (2026) | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Springfield Primary School Academy converter | Good (2022) · previous system | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School Academy converter | Good (2023) · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| St John Rigby Catholic Primary School Academy converter | Good (2023) · previous system | 5–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| St Lawrence Church of England Primary School Voluntary aided school | Most areas: Expected standard (2026) | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| The Hills Academy Academy converter | Good (2020) · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Thurleigh Primary School Foundation school | Good (2024) · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Turvey Primary School Foundation school | Good — confirmed 2022 · previous system | 5–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Westfield Primary School Community school | Good (2022) · previous system | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Wilden CofE VA Primary School Voluntary aided school | Good (2024) · previous system | 2–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Wilstead Primary School Academy converter | Good (2023) · previous system | 4–11 | — |
| Wixams Tree Primary Academy Free schools | Good (2024) · previous system | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Wootton Primary School Academy converter | Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Sheerhatch Primary School Community school | Most areas: Needs attention (2026) | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Carlton CofE Primary School Voluntary controlled school | No overall grade (2024) | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Cotton End Forest School Community school | No overall grade (2025) | 2–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Elstow School Academy converter | Standards maintained (2025) | 4–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Goldington Green Academy Academy converter | No overall grade (2025) | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Hazeldene School Foundation school | Standards maintained (2024) | 3–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Oakley Primary Academy Academy converter | No overall grade (2024) | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Pinchmill Primary School Foundation school | No overall grade (2025) | 2–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Priory Primary School Foundation school | No overall grade (2024) | 3–11 | Oversubscribed (2026 entry) |
| Renhold VC Primary School Voluntary controlled school | No overall grade (2025) | 3–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| St James' CofE Academy Academy converter | Standards maintained (2025) | 5–11 | Usually has places available (2026 entry) |
| Ursula Taylor Church of England School Academy converter | No overall grade (2025) | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
| Willow Grove Primary School Free schools | No Ofsted rating | 4–11 | Roughly one first choice per place (2026 entry) |
Nursery, special & other (17)
| School | Ofsted | Ages | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Pan Nursery School Local authority nursery school | Outstanding — confirmed 2023 · previous system | 2–5 | — |
| Grange Academy Academy special converter | Good (2022) · previous system | 5–18 | — |
| Greys Education Centre Academy alternative provision converter | Good (2024) · previous system | 5–16 | — |
| St John's School Academy special converter | Good (2023) · previous system | 2–19 | Roughly one first choice per place (2016 entry) |
| Bedford College Further education | No Ofsted rating | 16+ | — |
| Bedford Girls' School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 7–18 | — |
| Bedford Greenacre Independent School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 0–18 | — |
| Bedford Modern School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 7–18 | — |
| Bedford School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 7–19 | — |
| Cambian Walnut Tree Lodge School Other independent special school | No Ofsted rating | 7–19 | — |
| Cherry Trees Nursery School Local authority nursery school | Standards maintained (2024) | 2–5 | — |
| Kimberley 16 - 19 Stem College Free schools 16 to 19 | No Ofsted rating | 16–19 | — |
| KWS School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 11–18 | — |
| Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 0–7 | — |
| Polam School Other independent school | No Ofsted rating | 1–9 | — |
| Ridgeway School Community special school | Standards maintained (2025) | 2–19 | — |
| Rivertree Free School Free schools special | No Ofsted rating | 2–19 | — |
“Demand” is first-choice applications against places at the latest entry year — admission criteria, not demand, decide offers. Data: DfE & Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources.