Schools by area › Central Bedfordshire › Watling Lower School
Watling Lower School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–9 · Academy
Bull Pond Lane, Dunstable LU6 3BJ · watlinglower.org.uk · 01582 662232
Overview
- Ofsted
- Some aspects not as strong
- Ungraded inspection · Dec 2024
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 190
- 40 over 150 places · 127%
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 7.5%
- First language not English
- 12.1%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 35 families put the school first and 28 places were offered; 80% 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 | 28 | 35 | 1.3▲ | 80% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 43 | 1.4▲ | 67% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 29 | 39 | 1.3▲ | 74% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 30 | 49 | 1.6▲ | 55% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 30 | 48 | 1.6▲ | 63% |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 18 December 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Watling Lower School was: Some aspects not as strong.
- Outcome
- Some aspects not as strong
- Inspected
- 17 Dec 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 109499)
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Feb 2019
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 109499), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Feb 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 109499)
Sept 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 109499)
Sept 2013Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 109499)