Best Primary Schools in Bedford 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 54 schools across Bedford. Updated with 2025–26 data.

How many schools?
54
Open primary schools in Bedford
Closed schools excluded
Inspection picture
51 Good or better
of 53 with a historic Ofsted grade
Historic single-word grades · pre-Nov-2025
How is this list ordered?
SNM score
Harrold Primary Academy currently leads
Methodology

Bedford has 54 open primary schools. Of the 53 with a published Ofsted inspection, 4 (8%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 96% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Harrold Primary Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Bedford follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Harrold Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 79 View school
2. Turvey Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
3. Carlton CofE Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 75 View school
4. Cauldwell School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
5. Great Denham Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 73 View school
6. Kymbrook Primary School
Primary
 Good 71 View school
7. Bromham CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 70 View school
8. Elstow School
Primary
 Good 68 View school
9. Hazeldene School
Primary
 Good 68 View school
10. Wilden CofE VA Primary School
Primary
 Good 67 View school
11. Sharnbrook Primary
Primary
 Good 67 View school
12. Oakley Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 67 View school
13. The Hills Academy
Primary
 Good 66 View school
14. Kempston Rural Primary School
Primary
 Good 64 View school
15. Wootton Primary School
Primary
 Good 62 View school
16. Eileen Wade Primary School
Primary
 Good 62 View school
17. Riseley CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 61 View school
18. Milton Ernest CofE Primary School
Primary
 Good 60 View school
19. Great Ouse Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 59 View school
20. Cotton End Forest School
Primary
 Requires Improvement 58 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Bedford

Best primary schools in BedfordTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in BedfordTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in BedfordPrimary & secondary combined Secondary schools in BedfordYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Central BedfordshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Milton KeynesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LutonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in North NorthamptonshireCompare neighbouring authority

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 schools are there in Bedford?
There are 54 open primary schools in Bedford (closed schools are excluded). 4 of the 53 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary schools in Bedford?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Bedford is Harrold Primary Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Bedford?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Bedford?
Primary and secondary applications in Bedford are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Bedford council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

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.