SchoolScoresThe Meads Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Sawtry Close, Luton, LU3 2UE
01582 490905 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 September 2014.
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 |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 6 June 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
28 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Luton comparisons use the 26 of its 52 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 26 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 | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 13th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 91% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 8th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 91% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 15th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 87% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 21 parents who had raised a concern Joint 15th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 30% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 15th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Luton. Higher than 32% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%said yes | 85% | 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. Luton figures pool parents at the Luton 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
53 pupils in this year group.
75% — 10 points above the Luton average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 65% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 89% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 89% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Luton. 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 | 68 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 59 |
| Of those, offered a place | 59 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 125 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 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 | Luton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.5% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 35th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 3.6%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 26th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 56% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.2% | 15.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 34th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 40.7% | 53.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 24th lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 48% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 31st lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 38% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.8% | 13.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 84% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.8 | 22.0 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 19th highest of 52 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 48% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.6 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 34th highest of 50 state primary schools in Luton. Higher than 40% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 14.4%* | 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
- Waulud Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2023 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Icknield Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norton Road Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warden Hill Junior School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warden Hill Infant Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024, before conversion)
- Bramingham Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Beechwood Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitefield Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parklea Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Meads Primary School's Ofsted rating?
The Meads Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 September 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 6 June 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Meads Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Meads Primary School?
86% of the 28 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend The Meads Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Meads Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 59 families put The Meads Primary School as their first choice for 68 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 59 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 109558.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.