SchoolScoresDovery Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of KNOWLEDGE SCHOOLS TRUST
Heath Road, Dovery Academy, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3AG
01525 377233 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 13 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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
55 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Leighton Buzzard comparisons use the 10 of its 16 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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 | Leighton Buzzard | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 89% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 93% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 33%). 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. Leighton Buzzard figures pool parents at the Leighton Buzzard 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Central Bedfordshire. 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 2 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 53 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (55%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 131 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.8
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 | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 10th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 47% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.8% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 88% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 13% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 10th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 22% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.8% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 71% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.4 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 27% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.4 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 12th highest of 15 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 2.7% | 13.5%* | 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
- Heathwood Lower School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- The Rushmere Park Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected
- St Leonards CE Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion)
- The Mary Bassett Lower School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Beaudesert Lower School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
- Clipstone Brook Lower School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Linslade Lower School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected
- Pulford CofE VA Lower School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Southcott Lower School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Leedon Lower School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dovery Academy's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 13 May 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Dovery Academy?
100% of the 55 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Dovery Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dovery Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 53 families put Dovery Academy as their first choice for 29 places: about 2 first-choice applications for every place. 29 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 149324.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.