SchoolScoresThe Firs Lower School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of THE FIRS LOWER SCHOOL
Station Road, Ampthill, Bedford, MK45 2QR
01525 402735 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 November 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 9 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 | 48 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 129 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Central Bedfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 66th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 47th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 59th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 47th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 81% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 80% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 41st lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 40% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 49th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 35% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.1% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 4th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 94% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 25.9 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 21st highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 53% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.9 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 46th highest of 57 state primary schools in Bedford. 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
- Russell Lower School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2022
- Templefield Lower School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023
- Kingsmoor Lower School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Maulden Lower School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023
- Flitwick Lower School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Greenfield CofE VC Lower School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Houghton Conquest Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Lidlington Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Firs Lower School's Ofsted rating?
The Firs Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 9 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is The Firs Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put The Firs Lower School as their first choice for 48 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 137756.
- 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.