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Balliol Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Community school
Balliol Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 7ER · balliolschool.co.uk · 01234 300601
On the mapSearch near MK42 7ER
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Jul 2022
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 39%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bedford 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 355
- 81% of 440 places
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 30.4%
- First language not English
- 36.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 23 families put the school first and 24 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 27 | 26 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 26 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 43 | 37 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 44 | 31 | 0.7 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 39% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% the higher standard. Across Bedford it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼39% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼100 | 106 | ||
| ▼100 | 105 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Balliol Primary School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 12 July 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 12 Jul 2022
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jul 2012
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jul 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Oct 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (24 replies, to 2 April 2023).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 24
- 6% · 2 Apr 2023
based on the 62% who raised concerns
based on the 21% who had a child bullied