Pulford CofE VA Lower School

Pulford CofE VA Lower School has transitioned from an outstanding grade in its last inspection 13 years ago to being rated good in this recent inspection. The school is noted for its supportive and inclusive environment, where pupils thrive academically and personally, encouraged by dedicated staff and strong community values. The curriculum is well-structured and pupils are generally making good progress, especially in key areas such as phonics and early reading. However, there are identified shortfalls in some subjects where teachers do not consistently utilize prior knowledge and vocabulary effectively, affecting pupil progress in those areas.

Strengths

• Strong values of faith, hope, and love that create a supportive school community.
• Pupils are engaged and work hard to meet high expectations.
• Excellent outdoor learning opportunities that foster resilience and creativity.
• Well-trained staff who effectively support pupils with special educational needs.
• A carefully chosen phonics scheme that supports early reading development.
• A calm and respectful atmosphere that encourages positive behaviour.
• Active involvement of governors who are familiar with the school's workings.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistency in using precise knowledge and vocabulary in some subjects.

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 Pulford CofE VA Lower School attended 97.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 2.7% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Pulford CofE VA Lower 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 Pulford CofE VA Lower School had 20.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 2.7% 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, 9.3% of pupils at Pulford CofE VA Lower School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.9% 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 Pulford CofE VA Lower School received £7,366 and spent £7,269 for each of its 245 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £24,000 (£100 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 Leighton Buzzard · Central Bedfordshire local authority: places and applications

What is Pulford CofE VA Lower School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Pulford CofE VA Lower School is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Pulford CofE VA Lower School last inspected by Ofsted?

Pulford CofE VA Lower School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Pulford CofE VA Lower School have?

Pulford CofE VA Lower School has 259 pupils on roll.

What age range does Pulford CofE VA Lower School cover?

Pulford CofE VA Lower School for pupils aged 2 to 9.

Where is Pulford CofE VA Lower School?

Pulford CofE VA Lower School is at Pulford Road, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 1AB.