Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Bedford 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 84 schools across Bedford. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Bedford has 84 primary & secondary schools, of which 6 (7%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted and a further 61 rated Good — 80% of primary & secondary schools in Bedford are rated Good or Outstanding overall. Cherry Trees Nursery School currently leads the local rankings on our composite SNM Score.

Application deadlines in Bedford follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry. Offers go out on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

84
Total schools
6
Outstanding
7%
Outstanding rate
56.7%
Avg KS2 SATs
35.9
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted SNM Score
🥇 Cherry Trees Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Peter Pan Nursery School
Nursery
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥉 Great Denham Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 84 View school
4. Castle Newnham School
Primary
 Outstanding 81 View school
5. Harrold Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school
6. Ridgeway School
Not applicable
 Good 80 View school
7. St John's School
Not applicable
 Good 80 View school
8. Greys Education Centre
Not applicable
 Good 80 View school
9. Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 80 View school
10. Wootton Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Lakeview School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Hazeldene School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
13. Kymbrook Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
14. Bromham CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
15. Elstow School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
16. Cauldwell School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
17. Turvey Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
18. Sharnbrook Primary
Primary
 Good 75 View school
19. St Lawrence Church of England Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
20. Kempston Rural Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school

Related lists for Bedford

Primary schools in BedfordReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in BedfordYear 7 onwards Outstanding schools in Bedford6 schools rated Outstanding

See full data for any school in Bedford

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Bedford?
There are 84 primary & secondary schools in Bedford, of which 6 (7%) are rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
What are the best schools in Bedford?
Based on our composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance and class sizes, the top school in Bedford is Cherry Trees Nursery School. See the full ranked list above.
How do I apply for a school place in Bedford?
Primary and secondary school applications in Bedford are managed by the Local Authority. Applications for secondary places typically open in September for the following academic year. Visit the Bedford council website for application forms and deadlines.
What is the average Ofsted rating in Bedford?
7% of primary & secondary schools in Bedford are rated Outstanding and 73% are rated Good. 69% are rated Good or Outstanding.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.