Potton Primary School

Potton Primary School is a happy, friendly school where pupils learn well and most behave well. It was judged good in all key areas—quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years—at its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic. The school became a primary in September 2023 after a restructure and has moved to a more stable position after turbulent leadership and governance times; safeguarding is effective. Strengths include a well-designed curriculum supported by relevant staff training, accurate identification of SEND and precise support, strong phonics and reading provision, improving and now high attendance, and a Reception provision where children learn and develop well. Pupils also show a well-developed moral compass and contribute to school life. However, leaders need to address three main areas. Teachers do not always match activities closely enough to pupils’ needs, so some learning is too hard or too easy, and some pupils sometimes find class reading tricky. Some staff do not fully understand the new behaviour approach, and some lessons are still disrupted by poor behaviour. Governors also need to develop their knowledge of education quality so they challenge leaders as rigorously as they do in other areas.

Strengths

• Well-designed curriculum supported by relevant staff training
• Accurate identification of SEND and precise, closely monitored provision
• Strong phonics and early reading provision with effective catch-up support
• High attendance supported by swift action and work with parents
• Effective early years provision where children learn routines and vocabulary
• Pupils develop a strong moral compass and respect for differences
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Pupils take on leadership roles and contribute to school life
• Most pupils behave well and respond to high expectations
• Leaders and governors have stabilised the school after turbulent times

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers do not consistently adapt activities to pupils’ varying levels of understanding and need
• Some pupils find the reading they are asked to do in class tricky
• Pupils sometimes find learning too hard or too easy in some subjects
• Some lessons are disrupted by poor behaviour
• Some staff do not fully understand the principles behind the new behaviour approach
• Governors do not hold leaders to account for quality of education as rigorously as other areas
• Governors need to develop their knowledge and skills around quality of education

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 Potton Primary School attended 93.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 16.3% 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, 2.3% of pupils at Potton 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 Potton Primary School had 20.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.4% 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, 19.1% of pupils at Potton Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.2% 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 Potton Primary School received £6,163 and spent £6,963 for each of its 387 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £220,000 (£569 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 Sandy · Central Bedfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Potton Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Potton Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Potton Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Potton Primary School was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Potton Primary School have?

Potton Primary School has 387 pupils on roll.

What age range does Potton Primary School cover?

Potton Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 41% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Potton Primary School?

Potton Primary School is at Mill Lane, Potton, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2PG.