Dovery Academy

Dovery Academy is a highly effective school where pupils are exceptionally eager to learn in a calm and purposeful environment. This was its first routine section 5 inspection, and it has converted to academy status under the Knowledge Schools Trust since its predecessor school was last judged adequate. Inspectors found outstanding provision across all key judgements, with pupils achieving exceptionally well and developing confidence, independence and resilience.

Strengths

• Pupils are exceptionally eager to learn and achieve exceptionally well.
• The curriculum is knowledge-rich, clearly sequenced and focused on widening vocabulary.
• Teachers check understanding routinely and help pupils remember more over time.
• Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported effectively to achieve well.
• Reading and phonics are taught expertly, with timely support for pupils who fall behind.
• Early years provision prepares children exceptionally well for the next stage.
• Pupils’ behaviour is praiseworthy, polite and caring.
• Personal development is exceptional, with rich experiences, leadership roles and clubs.
• Staff receive strong training and support that develops expertise and manages workload.
• Trustees and governors provide clear strategic oversight and monitor school performance well.
• Parents and carers are highly positive about the school and the support their children receive.

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 Dovery Academy attended 95.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.4% 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, 1.8% of pupils at Dovery 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 Dovery Academy had 22.4 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, 8.9% of pupils at Dovery Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.1% 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 Dovery Academy received £7,073 and spent £7,596 for each of its 157 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £13,000 (-£82 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of Knowledge Schools Trust, income was £8,428 and spending £8,410 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 Leighton Buzzard · Central Bedfordshire local authority: places and applications

Dovery Academy is part of Knowledge Schools Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Edlesborough Primary Academy Dunstable
• Wixams Academy Bedford
• Wixams Tree Primary Academy Bedford
• Bedford Road Primary Academy Bedford
• Earl's Court Free School Primary London
• West London Free School London
• West London Free School Primary London
• Kensington Primary Academy London

What is Dovery Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Dovery Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was Dovery Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Dovery Academy was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does Dovery Academy have?

Dovery Academy has 191 pupils on roll.

What age range does Dovery Academy cover?

Dovery Academy for pupils aged 3 to 9.

Where is Dovery Academy?

Dovery Academy is at Heath Road, Dovery Academy, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 3AG.