Best Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 95 schools across Central Bedfordshire. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Central Bedfordshire has 95 open primary schools. Of the 95 with a published Ofsted inspection, 4 (4%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 89% 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, Gravenhurst 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 Central Bedfordshire 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.

95
Total schools
4
Outstanding (historic grade)
4%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
52.8%
Avg KS2 SATs
42.6
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Gravenhurst Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Raynsford Church of England Academy
Primary
 Good 81 View school
🥉 Flitwick Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
4. Haynes Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
5. Houghton Conquest Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
6. Husborne Crawley Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
7. Beaudesert Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
8. Thomas Johnson Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
9. Stondon Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
10. Maulden Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
11. Shefford Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Shillington Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
13. Southill Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
14. Stanbridge Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
15. Chalton Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
16. Woburn Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
17. Russell Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
18. The Mary Bassett Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
19. Heathwood Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
20. Linslade Lower School
Primary
 Good 80 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 Central Bedfordshire

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

Nearby areas

Schools in LutonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BedfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Milton KeynesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HertfordshireCompare neighbouring authority

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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 Central Bedfordshire?
There are 95 open primary schools in Central Bedfordshire (closed schools are excluded). 4 of the 95 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 Central Bedfordshire?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary school in Central Bedfordshire is Gravenhurst 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 Central Bedfordshire?
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 Central Bedfordshire?
Primary and secondary applications in Central Bedfordshire 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 Central Bedfordshire 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.