SchoolScoresThe Mary Bassett Lower School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 9 · Mixed · Nursery class
Bassett Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AR
01525 373017 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 22 May 2024.
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 | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Leighton Buzzard comparisons use the 10 of its 16 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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 | Leighton Buzzard | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 55% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 35 parents who had raised a concern 6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Leighton Buzzard figures pool parents at the Leighton Buzzard 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. 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 | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 50 |
| Of those, offered a place | 50 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 139 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 2025: 0.9 · 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 4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 13.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.9% | 11.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.3% | 12.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 14th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 16th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.7% | 11.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 11th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.4 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Lower than 18% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.26% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 83% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.6 | 21.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 6th highest of 16 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 10.2 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 15 state primary schools in Leighton Buzzard. Higher than 59% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 15.1% | 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
- Pulford CofE VA Lower School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- The Rushmere Park Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected
- Clipstone Brook Lower School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025
- Linslade Lower School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected
- Southcott Lower School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Leedon Lower School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 needs attention, 2 urgent improvement
- Dovery Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Greenleas School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Heathwood Lower School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023
- Beaudesert Lower School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Mary Bassett Lower School's Ofsted rating?
The Mary Bassett Lower School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 22 May 2024.
Would parents recommend The Mary Bassett Lower School?
88% of the 43 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend The Mary Bassett Lower School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Mary Bassett Lower School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 50 families put The Mary Bassett Lower School as their first choice for 59 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 50 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 109508.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.