SchoolScoresBalliol Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Balliol Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7ER
01234 300601 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 July 2022.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
51 pupils in this year group.
39% — 18 points below the Bedford average, and 23 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 39% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 57% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 63% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 49% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bedford. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 24 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 67 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 5th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 35.5% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 39th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 13.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.2% | 28.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 26th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 24th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 41st highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 39% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.7 | 21.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 47th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 20% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.9 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 27th highest of 57 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 52% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 13.0% | 14.8%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Bedford Road Primary Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kempston Rural Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Springfield Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Camestone School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Denham Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wootton Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2024
- Cauldwell School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 3 strong, 3 expected, 1 needs attention · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westfield Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elstow School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen's Park Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Balliol Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Balliol Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 July 2022.
How did Balliol Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 39% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 23 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Balliol Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put Balliol Primary School as their first choice for 24 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 109464.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.