Ravensden CofE Primary Academy

Ravensden C of E Primary Academy has made notable strides in its educational provision since its conversion to an academy in January 2021. The school demonstrates a solid performance across various aspects, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and management. The small, inclusive community fosters confidence and enthusiasm among pupils, who are supported by caring staff and strong parental appreciation. Although the curriculum is generally well-structured, some subjects are still evolving, leading to inconsistencies in pupil attainment in certain areas.

Strengths

• Strong emphasis on early reading skills and phonics.
• Inclusive environment that supports pupils with special educational needs.
• Positive behaviour and a sense of community among pupils.
• Enrichment through various extracurricular activities and trips.
• Effective communication of school values that guide pupil interactions.

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum plans in a few subjects are underdeveloped.
• Leadership structure limits effective evaluation and accountability.
• Assessment systems are less robust in certain 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 Ravensden CofE Primary Academy attended 94.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.3% 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, 3.9% of pupils at Ravensden CofE 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 Ravensden CofE Primary Academy had 9.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 30.2% 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, 17.6% of pupils at Ravensden CofE Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 17.6% 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 Ravensden CofE Primary Academy received £11,515 and spent £11,564 for each of its 69 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £29,000 (£416 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

Ravensden CofE Primary Academy is part of Diocese of St Albans Multi-Academy Trust, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

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

What is Ravensden CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Ravensden CofE Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Ravensden CofE Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Ravensden CofE Primary Academy was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Ravensden CofE Primary Academy have?

Ravensden CofE Primary Academy has 51 pupils on roll.

What age range does Ravensden CofE Primary Academy cover?

Ravensden CofE Primary Academy for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Ravensden CofE Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 9% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Ravensden CofE Primary Academy?

Ravensden CofE Primary Academy is at Vicarage Close, Ravensden, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 2RW.