Schools in Bedford
74 schools in 6 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Bedford at a glance
- Schools
- 74 53 state primary, 14 state secondary, 2 sixth-form or college and 5 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 98% 49 of the 50 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 13 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 13 Of 65 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 93% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 62 of 67 state schools that take an intake. Bedford's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Bedford
Primary
| Place in Bedford | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harrold Primary Academy | Bedford | 1st (1/52) |
| 2 | Cotton End Forest School | Bedford | Top 4% (2/52) |
| 3 | Hazeldene School | Bedford | Top 6% (3/52) |
| 4 | Kymbrook Primary School | Bedford | Top 8% (4/52) |
| 5 | Elstow School | Bedford | Top 10% (5/52) |
| 6 | Bromham CofE Primary School | Bedford | Top 12% (6/52) |
| 7 | Cauldwell School | Bedford | Top 14% (7/52) |
| 8 | Great Denham Primary School | Bedford | Top 16% (8/52) |
| 9 | Turvey Primary School | Bedford | Top 18% (9/52) |
| 10 | Sharnbrook Primary | Bedford | Top 20% (10/52) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Bedford primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Bedford | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goldington Academy | Bedford | 1st (1/11) |
| 2 | Bedford Free School | Bedford | Top 19% (2/11) |
| 3 | Lincroft Academy | Bedford | Top 28% (3/11) |
| 4 | Sharnbrook Academy | Bedford | Top 37% (4/11) |
| 5 | Daubeney Academy | Bedford | Top 46% (5/11) |
| 6 | Bedford Academy | Bedford | (6/11) |
| 7 | Wixams Academy | Bedford | (7/11) |
| 8 | St Thomas More Catholic School | Bedford | (8/11) |
| 9 | Mark Rutherford School | Bedford | (9/11) |
| 10 | Biddenham International School and Sports College | Bedford | (10/11) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Bedford secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Huntingdon 1 school · best schools
- Kempston 1 school · best schools
- Podington 1 school · best schools
- Rushden 1 school · best schools
- Wixams 1 school · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Bedford council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Bedford council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Bedford council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Bedford council |
Every Bedford admission date · After offer day in Bedford: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Bedford. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 62 of 67 state schools (93%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Bedford: we hold checked fees for 3 of 5 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 59 nurseries and pre-schools in Bedford, with fees held for 6. Nurseries in Bedford by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Bedford
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.