Schools by area › Bedford › Shortstown Primary School
Shortstown Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Academy
Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford MK42 0GS · shortstownprimary.co.uk · 01234 740881
On the mapSearch near MK42 0GS
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Feb 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 60%
- 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
- 479
- 59 over 420 places · 114%
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 26.3%
- First language not English
- 24%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 56 families put the school first and 56 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 | 56 | 56 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 60 | 66 | 1.1▲ | 91% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 59 | 61 | 1▲ | 95% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 59 | 56 | 0.9 | 98% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 60 | 70 | 1.2▲ | 86% |
Results
In 2024/25, 60% 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 | |||
| ●60% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 109498)
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Shortstown Primary School on 3 February 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: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Early years: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 3 Feb 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Oct 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Apr 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Dec 2008Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding
What parents said
71% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (24 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 71%
- Positive
- 67%
- Replies
- 24
- 5% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 83% who raised concerns
based on 4 parents (17%) whose child was bullied
based on 12 parents (50%) with SEND