SchoolScoresJohn Donne CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
High Street, Blunham, Bedford, MK44 3NL
01767 640346 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 28 November 2023.
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 | Requires improvement |
| 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
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
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 1st highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. 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 Joint 24th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 89% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 20 parents who had raised a concern 26th highest of 35 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 27% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 81% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 28th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81%said yes | 88% | 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. 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
17 pupils in this year group.
29% — 21 points below the Central Bedfordshire average, and 33 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 29% | 50% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 6% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 59% | 70% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 61% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 35% | 66% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 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 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 14 |
| Of those, offered a place | 14 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 23 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 35th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 38th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.8% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 43rd highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 48th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 37% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 44th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 36% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.1% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 55% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 38th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 58th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 12% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.1 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 35th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 46th highest of 57 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- Maple Tree Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moggerhanger Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Laburnum Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Robert Peel Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Barford CofE Primary Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 0% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Swithun's CofE VC Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Roxton CofE Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 27% met expected standard (KS2)
- Northill CofE Academy 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is John Donne CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
John Donne CofE Primary School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 November 2023.
How did John Donne CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 29% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 33 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend John Donne CofE Primary School?
81% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend John Donne CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is John Donne CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put John Donne CofE Primary School as their first choice for 15 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 14 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 109615.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.