Great Ouse Primary Academy
Bedford, MK40 4TJ · Bedford · primary school
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2nd of 50 primary schools in Bedford we can score, 55 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 6.6/10 against 3,700 of them, against 6.3/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 67.0 · 57 | 40% | 2.28 |
| Ofsted | 90 | 35% | 3.17 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 12.0 · 74 | 25% | 1.85 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Great Ouse Primary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 67.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with a national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 12.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.3 out of 10 against all schools). The school was inspected in June 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a decorate-a-bake club, homework club, French club, and football. The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 455 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
Since the inspection is recent, what specific improvements have been made in the areas graded under the new framework? How does the homework club support pupils who need extra help with their daily tasks?
What Ofsted said about Great Ouse Primary Academy
Overview
Great Ouse Primary Academy is described as a "warm, nurturing school" where pupils feel "cared for and valued" and describe the community as "one big family." The report highlights strong standards in attendance, behaviour, early years, inclusion, and personal development, with pupils achieving highly in core subjects by Year 6.
Strengths
- Attendance and behaviour are rated at a "Strong standard," with leaders using personalised support to remove barriers and staff modelling positive relationships.
- Early years provision is praised for its "clear passion," ambitious curriculum, and emphasis on developing language skills, including sign language.
- Inclusion is effective, with leaders quickly identifying barriers for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs, ensuring most access the same age-appropriate curriculum.
- Personal development is "well planned," fostering empathy, resilience, and a sense of belonging through embedded school values and extensive extra-curricular opportunities.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teaching and the quality of work produced are "consistently effective" across all subjects, as consistency is not always evident in a few areas.
- Analysis of disadvantaged pupils' learning gaps requires greater precision to enable more targeted support, as some do not achieve as well as peers due to gaps not being identified quickly enough.
- Individual targets and adaptations need to be "sharply focused and precise" so that pupils with gaps in foundational knowledge make increased progress.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 78% |
| 2024/25 | 67% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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