Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › Lark Rise Academy
Lark Rise Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Cartmel Drive, Dunstable LU6 3PT · larkrise.com · 01582 607852
Overview
- Ofsted
- No overall grade
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2025
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 88%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Central Bedfordshire 50%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.5
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 351
- 98% of 360 places
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 7.6%
- First language not English
- 17.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 69 families put the school first and 45 places were offered; 64% 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 | 45 | 69 | 1.5▲ | 64% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 44 | 68 | 1.5▲ | 63% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 45 | 59 | 1.3▲ | 73% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 45 | 65 | 1.4▲ | 65% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 45 | 55 | 1.2▲ | 78% |
Results
In 2024/25, 88% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 10% 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 | |||
| ▲88% | 62% | ||
| ●10% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▲109 | 106 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Lark Rise Academy on 11 March 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.
- Overall
- No overall grade
- Inspected
- 11 Mar 2025
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Dec 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Dec 2013Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Dec 2007Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
97% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (155 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 97%
- Replies
- 155
- 43% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 75% who raised concerns
based on the 21% who had a child bullied
based on 25 parents (16%) with SEND