Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy is performing well, having improved since its last inspection where it was rated as requires improvement. The school is now recognized for its good quality of education, robust behavior and attitudes, and effective leadership and management. Pupils express pride in their school and demonstrate a strong commitment to learning, often collaborating effectively with one another. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully structured, with reading prioritized, helping students develop a love for literature from an early age. However, there are areas for growth, particularly in support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Strengths

• Pupils are articulate and enthusiastic about their learning.
• The school has an ambitious and well-designed curriculum.
• Reading is prioritized, enhancing students' love of literature.
• Pupils support one another, fostering a sense of community.
• Effective behavior management leads to a positive school environment.
• Leaders regularly review the curriculum for continuous improvement.
• Strong emphasis on personal development and respect for diversity.

Areas for Improvement

• Teachers do not consistently provide the expected support for pupils with SEND.
• Trustees do not adequately evaluate the quality of the curriculum beyond English and mathematics.

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 Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.4% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy 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 Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy had 17.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.0% 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, 17.0% of pupils at Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.8% 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 2024–25 Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy received £7,162 and spent £7,320 for each of its 193 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £4,000 (-£20 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, income was £7,648 and spending £7,542 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy is part of Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• Roxton Church of England Academy Bedford
• Ravensden CofE Primary Academy Bedford
• Northill CofE Academy Biggleswade
• Caldecote Church of England Academy Biggleswade
• Ursula Taylor Church of England School Bedford
• St James' CofE Academy Bedford
• Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy Dunstable
• Wenlock CofE Academy Luton
• St Leonards CE Academy Leighton Buzzard
• Manshead Church of England Academy Luton

What is Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.

When was Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy was last inspected in November 2022.

How many pupils does Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy have?

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy has 176 pupils on roll.

What age range does Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy cover?

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy?

Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy is at Silver Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 3HZ.