Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › St Mary's VA CofE Lower School
St Mary's VA CofE Lower School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–9 · Voluntary aided
High Street, Clophill MK45 4BE · clophillstmarysschool.co.uk · 01525 860206
On the mapSearch near MK45 4BE
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 134
- 89% of 150 places
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 11.8%
- First language not English
- 3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 23 families put the school first and 26 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 | 26 | 23 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 19 | 18 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 23 | 22 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 16 | 16 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Mary's VA CofE Lower School on 3 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 3 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2007Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
83% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (30 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 83%
- Positive
- 76%
- Replies
- 30
- 21% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 87% who raised concerns
based on 4 parents (13%) whose child was bullied
based on 5 parents (17%) with SEND