SchoolScoresDunstable Icknield Lower School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of SCHOLARS' EDUCATION TRUST
Burr Street, Dunstable, LU6 3AG
01582 663709 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 14 November 2023. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
94 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Dunstable comparisons use the 17 of its 22 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 5 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 | Dunstable | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 15th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 92% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 15th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 5% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 17th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 84% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 46 parents whose child had been bullied 12th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 6% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 30% | 48% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 79 parents who had raised a concern 16th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 2% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 75% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 16th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dunstable. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 61%said yes | 84% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Dunstable figures pool parents at the Dunstable 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 38 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 33 |
| Of those, offered a place | 33 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 87 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.5 · 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 | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.2% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 6th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.7% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 54.6% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 18th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 25% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.2% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 22nd lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 12.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 21st lowest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Lower than 6% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 21st highest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.0 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 10th highest of 22 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 21 state primary schools in Dunstable. Higher than 98% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 46.7% | 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
- Ashton St Peter's VA CofE School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Watling Lower School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), some aspects weaker 2024
- Lark Rise Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 88% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beecroft Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ardley Hill Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lancot School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Augustine's Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hadrian Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Vale Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Houghton Regis Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dunstable Icknield Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Dunstable Icknield Lower School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 November 2023.
Would parents recommend Dunstable Icknield Lower School?
61% of the 94 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Dunstable Icknield Lower School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dunstable Icknield Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 33 families put Dunstable Icknield Lower School as their first choice for 38 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 33 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 151210.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.