Schools by area › Bedford › Elstow School
Elstow School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Academy
Abbey Fields, Elstow, Bedford MK42 9GP · elstowschool.co.uk · 01234 302300
On the mapSearch near MK42 9GP
Overview
- Ofsted
- Standards maintained
- Ungraded inspection · Feb 2025
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 74%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bedford 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 413
- 98% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 21.1%
- First language not English
- 22.3%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Advantage Schools
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 39 families put the school first and 42 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 | 42 | 39 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 58 | 49 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 53 | 48 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 60 | 60 | 1 | 90% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 60 | 61 | 1▲ | 89% |
Results
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 5% 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 | |||
| ▲74% | 62% | ||
| ▼5% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●107 | 106 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 109448)
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 26 February 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for Elstow School was: Standards maintained.
- Outcome
- Standards maintained
- Inspected
- 25 Feb 2025
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Jan 2020
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Jan 2020Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Nov 2016Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Good Early years Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Feb 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (56 replies, to 1 September 2025).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 56
- 13% · 1 Sept 2025
based on the 77% who raised concerns
based on the 39% who had a child bullied
based on 12 parents (21%) with SEND