SchoolScoresShefford Lower School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
School Lane, Shefford, SG17 5XA
01462 629123 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 November 2017.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 5 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 90 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 94 |
| Of those, offered a place | 84 (89%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 147 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 8 places for social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.3% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.1% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.5% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Lower than 54% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 75% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.8 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 30% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.6 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 3 state primary schools in Shefford. Higher than 40% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Campton Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Meppershall CofE Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 30% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clifton All Saints Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Southill Lower School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 strong, 1 expected
- Gravenhurst Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Raynsford CofE Academy 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stondon Lower School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022
- Derwent Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shillington Lower School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Shefford Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Shefford Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 November 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 5 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is Shefford Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 94 families put Shefford Lower School as their first choice for 90 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 84 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 109479.
- 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.