Shortstown Primary School

Shortstown Primary School demonstrates a strong overall performance with pupils achieving well in key subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics. National test results show that the school is making improvements over time, particularly among disadvantaged students, who are closing the gap with their peers. Additionally, the school's focus on attendance has led to figures that exceed national averages, highlighting the positive relationships that staff cultivate with families to promote regular school attendance. However, while safeguarding practices are robust, phonics outcomes remain an area of concern, as they continue to lag behind national averages, indicating that further improvements in teaching quality in this area are necessary.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve well overall, with outcomes improving over time.
• Effective strategies are in place for supporting disadvantaged pupils.
• Attendance figures are higher than the national average.
• The personal development programme prepares pupils well for future education and life.
• Strong leadership maintains a focus on improving standards despite staffing changes.

Areas for Improvement

• Phonics outcomes are still below the national average.
• Staff do not consistently spot pupils' errors or misconceptions in learning.

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 Shortstown Primary School attended 95.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.3% 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, 0.6% of pupils at Shortstown 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 Shortstown Primary School had 20.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.5% 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, 25.1% of pupils at Shortstown Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.6% 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 Shortstown Primary School received £6,958 and spent £7,120 for each of its 460 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £421,000 (£917 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Heart Academies Trust, income was £7,834 and spending £7,933 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.

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

Shortstown Primary School is part of Heart Academies Trust, which runs 6 schools. The nearest others:

• Bedford Academy Bedford
• Shackleton Primary School Bedford
• Cauldwell School Bedford
• Goldington Green Academy Bedford
• Wilstead Primary School Bedford

What is Shortstown Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Shortstown Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was Shortstown Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Shortstown Primary School was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does Shortstown Primary School have?

Shortstown Primary School has 479 pupils on roll.

What age range does Shortstown Primary School cover?

Shortstown Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

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

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Shortstown Primary School?

Shortstown Primary School is at Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 0GS.