SchoolScoresCotton End Forest School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
High Road, Cotton End, Bedford, MK45 3AG
01234 740100 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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.
What parents say
106 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bedford comparisons use the 38 of its 66 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 28 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 29th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 30th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 34th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied 21st highest of 24 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 16% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 39% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 83 parents who had raised a concern 31st highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 12% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 81% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 29 parents of children with SEND 11th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 27% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 70% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 34th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 13% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75%said yes | 88% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 25%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bedford figures pool parents at the Bedford schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
77% — 20 points above the Bedford average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 93% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 83% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 | 51 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 48 |
| Of those, offered a place | 47 (98%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 109 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 0.9
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 32nd highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.7% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 22nd highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 30th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.4% | 13.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 31st highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.5% | 28.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 29th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 59% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.7% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 23rd lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 65% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 16th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 68% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 20th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 76% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.9 | 21.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 27th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 18th highest of 57 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 67% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 17.6% | 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
- Shortstown Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wilstead Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lakeview School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022, before conversion) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wixams Tree Primary Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Haynes Lower School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Elstow School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- King's Oak Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sheerhatch Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Willow Grove Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Shackleton Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Cotton End Forest School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 20 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Cotton End Forest School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Cotton End Forest School?
75% of the 106 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Cotton End Forest School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Cotton End Forest School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 48 families put Cotton End Forest School as their first choice for 51 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 47 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 109446.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.