SchoolScoresRidgmont Lower School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
High Street, Ridgmont, Bedford, MK43 0TS
01525 280236 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 25 November 2025 , published 29 January 2026.
In short: 1 strong, 5 expected, 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
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 | 2 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 1 |
| Of those, offered a place | 1 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 4 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.5
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 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 33.3% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 66.7% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 59th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. 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 66 state primary schools in Bedford. 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 66th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 0% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 3.3 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 65th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 0% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 2.3 | 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 suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.
Nearby primary schools
- Husborne Crawley Lower School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Aspley Guise Village School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion)
- Lidlington Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Eversholt Lower School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Woburn Lower School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Swallowfield Primary 3.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Ridgmont Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Ridgmont Lower School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 25 November 2025. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.
Is Ridgmont Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 1 families put Ridgmont Lower School as their first choice for 2 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 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 109476.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.