Schools by area › Bedford › St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Academy
Biddenham Turn, Bedford MK40 4AT · stfrancisofassisiprimarybedford.co.uk · 01234 352062
On the mapSearch near MK40 4AT
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Oct 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 44%
- 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
- 271
- 52% of 525 places
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 34.7%
- First language not English
- 81.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 20 families put the school first and 21 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 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 26 | 25 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 34 | 32 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 27 | 27 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 39 | 39 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 44% 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 | |||
| ▼44% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▼103 | 106 | ||
| ▼101 | 105 | ||
| ▼102 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 17 October 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 17 Oct 2023
- 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: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Nov 2019
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2019Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Requires improvement Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jan 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2010Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement
What parents said
81% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (37 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 81%
- Replies
- 37
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 78% who raised concerns
based on the 35% who had a child bullied