Kempston Rural Primary School

Kempston Rural Primary has been assessed as good overall, with outstanding behaviour and attitudes among pupils. The school exhibits a well-thought-out curriculum that fosters academic ambition, and the staff are well-versed in teaching reading and phonics effectively. Pupils display high levels of engagement and a genuine enjoyment of learning, which prepares them well for secondary education. However, the school has not been inspected for 13 years and has recently undergone changes, including the introduction of new curriculum plans in some subjects. The commitment to improving educational outcomes is evident, although some areas need further development, particularly the support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit exceptional behaviour and positive attitudes towards learning.
• Strong emphasis on teaching reading and phonics, leading to good progress.
• A broad and interesting curriculum keeps pupils engaged.
• Pupils are well-prepared for transitions to secondary school.
• The school promotes character development through initiatives like 'Kempston Coins'.
• High levels of attendance and pupil happiness.

Areas for Improvement

• Some needs of pupils with SEND are not identified precisely enough.
• Inconsistent communication with parents regarding support for SEND.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Kempston Rural Primary School attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.2% of pupils at Kempston Rural Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Kempston Rural Primary School had 22.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 8.2% of pupils at Kempston Rural Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Kempston Rural Primary School received £6,159 and spent £6,140 for each of its 433 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £251,000 (£580 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bedford · Bedford local authority: places and applications

What is Kempston Rural Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Kempston Rural Primary School is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Kempston Rural Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Kempston Rural Primary School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Kempston Rural Primary School have?

Kempston Rural Primary School has 439 pupils on roll.

What age range does Kempston Rural Primary School cover?

Kempston Rural Primary School for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Kempston Rural Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Kempston Rural Primary School?

Kempston Rural Primary School is at Martell Drive, Kempston, Bedfordshire, MK42 7FJ.