Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › John Donne Church of England Primary School
John Donne Church of England Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Voluntary aided
High Street, Blunham, Bedford MK44 3NL · johndonne.co.uk · 01767 640346
On the mapSearch near MK44 3NL
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jun 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 29%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Central Bedfordshire 50%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 119
- 57% of 208 places
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 17%
- First language not English
- 5%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 14 families put the school first and 15 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 | 15 | 14 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 19 | 19 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 29% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 6% the higher standard. Across Central Bedfordshire it was 50%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▼29% | 62% | ||
| ●6% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼102 | 106 | ||
| ▼100 | 105 | ||
| ▼100 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected John Donne Church of England Primary School on 23 June 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 23 Jun 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Nov 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective Feb 2022Ungraded inspectionConcerns
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Mar 2012Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Sept 2008Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good
What parents said
81% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (26 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 81%
- Replies
- 26
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 27% who had a child bullied