SchoolScoresPulford CofE VA Lower School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Pulford Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AB
01525 372188 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
68 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 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99% | 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 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 67% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 48 parents who had raised a concern 3rd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 87% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 99%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 26%). 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 one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 45 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 42 |
| Of those, offered a place | 42 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 82 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.3 · 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 13th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.1% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.9% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 98% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 97% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 2.7% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.1 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 8th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 49% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.7 | 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
- The Mary Bassett Lower School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Clipstone Brook Lower School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- The Rushmere Park Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected
- Linslade Lower School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected
- Leedon Lower School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement
- Southcott Lower School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Beaudesert Lower School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
- Greenleas School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Dovery Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Heathwood Lower School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Pulford CofE VA Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Pulford CofE VA Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2023.
Would parents recommend Pulford CofE VA Lower School?
99% of the 68 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Pulford CofE VA Lower School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Pulford CofE VA Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 42 families put Pulford CofE VA Lower School as their first choice for 45 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 42 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 109619.
- 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.