SchoolScoresSouthcott Lower School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
Bideford Green, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2UA
01525 375753 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 June 2013.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 3 March 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 56 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 115 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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 14th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.5% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.4% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 92% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 45% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 39% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 7th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 80% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.3 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 60% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.3 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 15 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 33% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.3% | 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
- Linslade Lower School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected
- Greenleas School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- The Mary Bassett Lower School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Pulford CofE VA Lower School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- The Rushmere Park Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected
- Dovery Academy 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Clipstone Brook Lower School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Heathwood Lower School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Leedon Lower School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement
- Beaudesert Lower School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Southcott Lower School's Ofsted rating?
Southcott Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 June 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 3 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is Southcott Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put Southcott Lower School as their first choice for 56 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 43 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 109523.
- 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.