SchoolScoresSt Mary's VA CofE Lower School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
High Street, Clophill, MK45 4BE
01525 860206 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 3 March 2026 , published 26 April 2026.
In short: 5 strong, 2 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. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than 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. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Central Bedfordshire comparisons use the 6 of its 95 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 89 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 | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 53% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 91% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 27% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 89% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 30% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 83% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 21% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 80% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 24% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 21%). 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. Central Bedfordshire figures pool parents at the Central Bedfordshire 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. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 26 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 47 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 51st highest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.3% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 59th highest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 73rd highest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 68th highest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 18th lowest of 94 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Lower than 80% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 94 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 81st lowest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Lower than 12% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 55th lowest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 77th highest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 16% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.9 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 78th highest of 95 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 16% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.6 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 65th highest of 79 state primary schools in Central Bedfordshire. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Maulden Lower School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023
- Silsoe CofE VC Lower School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Gravenhurst Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Campton Academy 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Haynes Lower School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Greenfield CofE VC Lower School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's VA CofE Lower School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's VA CofE Lower School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 3 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 strong, 2 expected, and safeguarding was met.
Would parents recommend St Mary's VA CofE Lower School?
83% of the 30 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Mary's VA CofE Lower School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's VA CofE Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put St Mary's VA CofE Lower School as their first choice for 26 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 23 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 109617.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.