Shackleton Primary School

Type Primary / Academy converter
Age Range 4-11
Religion Does not apply
Address Pearcey Road
Shackleton Primary School
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK42 9LZ
Phone 01234352912
Reference Number 144545

Shackleton Primary School is currently performing at an expected standard with notable strengths in attendance improvements and a positive school culture focused on safeguarding. While the leadership demonstrates ambition and has made significant strides in teaching, particularly in core subjects like reading, writing, and mathematics, pupil achievement still falls below national expectations. The inclusive culture fosters support for diverse learners, aiding those with special educational needs to progress better than in previous years, although some concerns regarding achievement consistency remain.

General Makeup

Number of pupils 465
Boy/Girl ratio Boys: 54.41%
Girls: 45.59%
Percentage of students eligible for free school meals 35.9%
Percentage of students where English is not their first language 58.3%

Class Sizes

Average size of one teacher classes 23.3
Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher 25.3
Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher 27.4

Year Groups

Year Boys Girls Total
1 32 27 59
2 34 25 59
3 29 30 59
4 52 33 85
5 37 37 74
6 35 21 56

Ethnicities

Ethnicity Percentage
White, Other 22.8%
White, British 20.2%
African 11.6%
Indian 8.4%
Pakistani 6%
White & Black (Caribbean) 4.9%
Asian, Other 3.9%
White & Asian 2.6%
Mixed, Other 1.9%
Caribbean 1.3%
White & Black (African) 0.9%
Unclassified 0.6%

Overall Ofsted Rating Needs attention
 >  Leadership & Governance Expected standard
 >  Personal Development & Wellbeing Expected standard
 >  Achievement Needs attention
 >  Attendance & Behaviour Expected standard
 >  Curriculum & Teaching Expected standard
 >  Inclusion Expected standard
 >  Early Years Expected standard
Last Report Date 27 Jan 2026
Date Report
27 Jan 2026 School inspection
28 Sep 2021 School inspection
06 Jun 2017 Academy conversion letter
12 Dec 2013 Full inspection:
Previously as Shackleton Primary School
12 Dec 2013 Full inspection:
09 Jun 2010 Full inspection:
09 Jun 2010 Full inspection:
10 Jan 2007 Full inspection:
10 Jan 2007 Full inspection:
20 May 2002 Full inspection
20 May 2002 Full inspection

Strengths

  • Positive safeguarding culture where pupils feel safe and supported.
  • Strong relationships with families that improve attendance and behavior.
  • Well-organized curriculum with clear priorities in reading, writing, and mathematics.
  • Effective professional learning for teachers that enhances classroom practice.
  • Strong early years provision that prepares children well for Year 1.
  • Inclusive culture that supports pupils facing barriers to learning.

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils' achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics does not meet national expectations.
  • Inconsistent application of learning across year groups in the wider curriculum.
  • Need for sharper identification of learning needs for some pupils with increased special educational needs.

How many students meet the standards

Reading, Writing & Maths School Score Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Pupils meeting the expected standard 54%
Pupils meeting a higher standard 0%

Average Scaled Score

Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.

Subject School Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Reading 103
Maths 104

Progress Scores

A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.

Metric School Score Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Reading 2
Writing -0.9
Maths 0.7

How many students meet the standards

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Average Scaled Score

Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.

Sample

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Progress Scores

A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.

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2025 Admissions

Number of Applications Number of Offers
First Preference
Second Preference 57 4
Third Preference 14 1
From another Local Authority 0 0

Previous Years

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Name Distance
Cherry Trees Nursery School
Hawkins Road, Bedford, MK42 9LS
0.05 miles
King's Oak Primary School
Oak Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0HH
0.49 miles
Peter Pan Nursery School
Edward Road, Bedford, MK42 9DR
0.51 miles
Cauldwell School
Edward Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9DR
0.52 miles
Elstow School
Abbey Fields, Elstow, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9GP
0.81 miles
Camestone School
Jowitt Avenue, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8NW
1.07 miles
Priory Primary School
Greyfriars, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1JD
1.08 miles
Castle Newnham School
Goldington Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3EP
1.13 miles
Springfield Primary School
Orchard Street, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7LJ
1.29 miles
Polam School
45 Lansdowne Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 2BU
1.3 miles
Queen's Park Academy
Chestnut Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4HA
1.41 miles
Livingstone Primary School
Clapham Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7LG
1.46 miles
Westfield Primary School
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1.5 miles
Bedford Road Primary Academy
Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8QH
1.51 miles
St John Rigby Catholic Primary School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9DQ
1.56 miles
Shortstown Primary School
Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0GS
1.59 miles
Rivertree Free School
Hillgrounds Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8QP
1.65 miles
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
Biddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AT
1.67 miles
Edith Cavell Primary School
Manton Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7NH
1.75 miles
Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School
Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7QZ
1.79 miles
Name Distance
Bedford Academy
Mile Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9TR
0.55 miles
Bedford Girls' School
Cardington Road, Bedford, MK42 0BX
0.58 miles
Bedford Free School
Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AD
0.6 miles
Bedford College
Cauldwell Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AH
0.67 miles
St John's School
Austin Canons, Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AA
0.89 miles
Bedford School
De Parys Avenue, Bedford, MK40 2TU
1.19 miles
Daubeney Academy
Orchard Street, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7PS
1.21 miles
Grange Academy
Halsey Road, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 8AU
1.33 miles
KWS School
51 Brunel Road, Bedford, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9TJ
1.34 miles
Castle Newnham School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9DT
1.56 miles
Goldington Academy
Haylands Way, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 9BX
1.59 miles
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Biddenham Turn, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 4AZ
1.71 miles
Bedford Modern School
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7NT
1.83 miles
Bedford Greenacre Independent School
Manton Lane, Bedford, MK41 7FZ
2.21 miles
Kempston Academy
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB
2.22 miles
Ridgeway School
Hill Rise, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7EB
2.3 miles
Wixams Academy
Green Lane, Wixams, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 6BA
2.56 miles
St Thomas More Catholic School
Tyne Crescent, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7UL
2.59 miles
Mark Rutherford School
Wentworth Drive, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 8PX
2.69 miles
Wootton Upper School
Hall End Road, Wootton, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK43 9HT
3.89 miles
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