Shefford Lower School
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 3-9 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | School Lane Shefford Bedfordshire SG17 5XA |
| Reference Number | 109479 |
Shefford Lower School has demonstrated that it continues to operate as a good school, evident through the positive attitudes of pupils who enjoy learning and feel safe. The school fosters a strong culture of values and community, which enhances pupils' well-being and prepares them well for future education. With a well-sequenced curriculum that promotes rich learning experiences and strong relationships between staff and pupils, the school provides an engaging environment where children thrive. However, as the school prepares to expand and serve older students, ongoing efforts are required to refine their curriculum and improve assessment practices in certain subjects.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 518 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 51.35%
Girls: 48.65% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 11.6% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 2.5% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 30 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 30.1 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 29.8 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47 | 42 | 89 |
| 2 | 52 | 38 | 90 |
| 3 | 47 | 43 | 90 |
| 4 | 35 | 54 | 89 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 86.9% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.3% |
| White, Other | 1.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.9% |
| White & Asian | 1.4% |
| African | 1.2% |
| White & Black (African) | 0.8% |
| Asian, Other | 0.8% |
| Indian | 0.6% |
| Pakistani | 0.4% |
| Chinese | 0.2% |
| Irish | 0.2% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | 04 May 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 04 May 2023 | School inspection |
| 22 Nov 2017 | Full inspection: |
| 24 Oct 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 09 Jan 2012 | Interim assessment |
| 13 Oct 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 20 Oct 2005 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Oct 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy coming to school and demonstrate eagerness to learn.
- The school cultivates a strong focus on values, fostering cooperation and sharing.
- High-quality curriculum develops pupils' knowledge progressively.
- Reading is prioritized, leading to fluency by the end of Year 1.
- Support for pupils with SEND is well-structured and effective.
- Strong relationships exist between pupils and staff, contributing to a positive learning environment.
- Pupils are involved in a variety of enrichment activities that enhance their development.
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment practices are less developed in a few subjects, hindering precise feedback for pupils.
2025 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 27 | 5 |
| Third Preference | 15 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Robert Bloomfield Academy
Bloomfield Drive, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5BU |
0.06 miles |
|
Campton Academy
Rectory Road, Campton, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5PF |
0.69 miles |
|
Meppershall Church of England Academy
107 High Street, Meppershall, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5LZ |
1.55 miles |
|
Clifton All Saints Academy
Church Street, Clifton, Near Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5ES |
1.74 miles |
|
Southill Lower School
School Lane, Southill, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9JA |
2.21 miles |
|
Gravenhurst Academy
High Street, Gravenhurst, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HY |
2.43 miles |
|
Raynsford Church of England Academy
Park Lane, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6AT |
2.5 miles |
|
Stondon Lower School
Hillside Road, Lower Stondon, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6LQ |
2.51 miles |
|
Derwent Primary School
Hitchin Road, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6BA |
2.56 miles |
|
Shillington Lower School
Greenfields, Shillington, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3NX |
2.8 miles |
|
St Mary's VA CofE Lower School
High Street, Clophill, Bedfordshire, MK45 4BE |
3.01 miles |
|
Haynes Lower School
Foresters Close, Haynes, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK45 3PR |
3.11 miles |
|
Langford Village Academy
Church Street, Langford, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9QA |
3.5 miles |
|
Gothic Mede Academy
High Street, Arlesey, Bedfordshire, SG15 6SL |
3.82 miles |
|
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School
Chestnut Avenue, Silsoe, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK45 4GP |
4.29 miles |
|
Pirton School
High Street, Pirton, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3PS |
4.34 miles |
|
Caldecote Church of England Academy
Manor Place, Upper Caldecote, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9DA |
4.7 miles |
|
Fairfield Park Lower School
Dickens Boulevard, Fairfield Park, Hertfordshire, SG5 4FD |
4.82 miles |
|
Biggleswade Academy
Mead End, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8JU |
4.91 miles |
|
Northill CofE Academy
Bedford Road, Northill, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9AH |
4.93 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Samuel Whitbread Academy
Shefford Road, Clifton, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5QS |
1.05 miles |
|
Henlow Church of England Academy
Church Road, Henlow, Bedfordshire, SG16 6AN |
2.62 miles |
|
Esland Bedford School
Unit 54, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, MK45 4HS |
3.36 miles |
|
Etonbury Academy
Stotfold Road, Arlesey, Bedfordshire, SG15 6XS |
4.26 miles |
|
Pix Brook Academy
Arlesey Road, Stotfold, SG5 4HB |
4.81 miles |