SchoolScoresIndependent school guide

Leedon Lower School

Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed

Highfield Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3LZ

01525 374713 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvementSafeguarding met · 28 April 2026
Pupils368Room for 360
First-choice applications per place0.638 for 60 places, September 2026

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 28 April 2026 , published 21 June 2026.

In short: 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

Category of concern: Requires significant improvement. Ofsted will monitor the school closely until it improves.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Urgent improvement The lowest of five grades. Ofsted found serious weaknesses that need fixing quickly.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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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 offered60
Families who put it first38
Of those, offered a place38 (100%)
Families who listed it at all114

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.6

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
 17.8% 13.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
 3.3% 4.3%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
 11.2% 11.4%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
 10.1% 12.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
 6.8% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
 15.9% 11.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
 15.0 3.5 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
 2.5% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.05% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
 23.6 21.7 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
 9.4 10.2 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
 16.5% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is Leedon Lower School's Ofsted rating?

Leedon Lower School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 28 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement, and safeguarding was met.

Is Leedon Lower School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 38 families put Leedon Lower School as their first choice for 60 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 38 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.