St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 3–11 · Bedford
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 3–11 (academy converter). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Good, from the inspection on 17 October 2023. Bedford has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2025 to 2026 entry.
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Key facts
- Address
- Biddenham Turn, Bedford, MK40 4AT
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3–11
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Council
- Bedford
- Pupils on roll
- 271 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 32.1% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 23.2
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Good Inspected 17 October 2023
Strengths
- “Pupils at St Joseph’s and St Gregory’s like coming to school.”
- “They feel part of the school’s caring community.”
- “Following a recent reorganisation of all pupils into one building, older and younger pupils welcome the opportunity to mix together.”
To improve
- “In a few subjects, the school has not provided the specific guidance teachers need to ensure that pupils retain and build complex knowledge over time.”
- “This means that, in these subjects, pupils do not gain and remember important knowledge as quickly as they should.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 16 November 2023 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 44% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 20 first-preference applications, 21 offers in total, 20 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Last distance offered and catchment
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Last distance offered for Reception 2025 to 2026, as Bedford published it, drawn on the map
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Which schools pupils move on to or come from
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Bedford.
- Westfield Primary School 0.3 mi Good Last distance published
- Queen's Park Academy 0.3 mi Good Last distance published
- Great Ouse Primary Academy 0.4 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- St James' CofE Academy 0.6 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Great Denham Primary School 0.8 mi Outstanding Last distance published
- Priory Primary School 0.8 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Livingstone Primary School 0.8 mi Good Last distance published
- Edith Cavell Primary School 0.9 mi School remains Good Last distance published