SchoolScoresSilsoe CofE VC Lower School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England
Chestnut Avenue, Silsoe, Bedford, MK45 4GP
01525 860247 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 March 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.
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 | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 29 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 57 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision and a SEN unit 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 48th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.2% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 57th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.5% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 54th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 22nd lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 64% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 25th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 62nd lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 12% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.1 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 63rd lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 8% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.36% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 44th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 35% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.3 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 27th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 42nd highest of 57 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 24% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 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
- Greenfield CofE VC Lower School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- St Mary's VA CofE Lower School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected
- Maulden Lower School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023
- Gravenhurst Academy 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Orchard School and Nursery 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Kingsmoor Lower School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Ramsey Manor Lower School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024)
- Shillington Lower School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Flitwick Lower School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Templefield Lower School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Silsoe CofE VC Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Silsoe CofE VC Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 March 2023.
Is Silsoe CofE VC Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 29 families put Silsoe CofE VC Lower School as their first choice for 29 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 29 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 109605.
- 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.