Hockliffe Lower School

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed

Part of KINGSBRIDGE EDUCATIONAL TRUST

Woburn Road, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9LL

01525 210330 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 11 March 2025
Pupils67Room for 75 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 61 in 2019, 65 in 2021, 52 in 2022, 53 in 2023, 65 in 2024, 65 in 2025, 67 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.913 for 15 places, September 2026
10th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 16% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 11 March 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

35 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.

StatementThis schoolLeighton BuzzardEngland
My child is happy at this school
6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 94% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 4th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 94% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 87% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 52% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
56% 54% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern
7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 39% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 77% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94%said yes 86% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 54%). 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.

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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 offered15
Families who put it first13
Of those, offered a place12 (92%)
Families who listed it at all29

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Central Bedfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCentral BedfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
16th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.1% 13.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
8th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 52% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.1% 4.3%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
16th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 11.4%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.8% 12.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
10th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Lower than 47% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.1% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Lower than 41% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
13.2% 11.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
7.7 3.5 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
15th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.05% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
16th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 9% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
15.5 21.7 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
10th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard.
Higher than 33% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
9.8 10.2 10.6

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.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Hockliffe Lower School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 11 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

Would parents recommend Hockliffe Lower School?

94% of the 35 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Hockliffe Lower School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Hockliffe Lower School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put Hockliffe Lower School as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 12 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.