Shortstown Primary School
Primary · Academy converter · Ages 2–11 · Bedford
Last distance offered · Reception 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From Bedford Borough Council · offers on 16 April 2026
2025 figure 🔒
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
Shortstown Primary School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 2–11 (academy converter). Bedford has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2025 to 2026 entry.
Shortstown Primary School catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Reception 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Reception 2025 | 🔒 With a pass |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- In 2024/25, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 62%), and 0% reached the higher standard (England 8%).
- Every Reception 2026 applicant was offered a place, as at 43 of the 53 other Bedford primary schools with a published Reception 2026 outcome; places ran out in 2025.
- For Reception 2026 there were 56 first-choice applications for 56 offers, or 1.0 first choices per offer, the 11th highest of 51 Bedford primary schools.
- 23.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, against a middle figure of 21.4% across the 8 nearest primary schools in Bedford.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Bedford schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford, MK42 0GS
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 2–11
- Council
- Bedford
- Pupils on roll
- 479 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 23.2% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 20.2
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 3 February 2026
Strengths
- “This gives pupils a sense of belonging and safety.”
- “Pupils are very understanding of difference in all its forms.”
- “The school's inclusive culture means that all pupils receive opportunities to succeed.”
To improve
- “However, phonics outcomes are still below the national average.”
- “However, at times, staff do not spot pupils' errors or misconceptions.”
- “Consequently, they do not make the adaptations that pupils need.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 20 March 2026 (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) | 60% | 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: 56 first-preference applications, 56 offers in total, 56 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Bedford.
- King's Oak Primary School 1.1 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Cotton End Forest School 1.2 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Elstow School 1.4 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Shackleton Primary School 1.6 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Lakeview School 1.8 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Sheerhatch Primary School 2.0 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Cauldwell School 2.1 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Goldington Green Academy 2.1 mi Not judged Last distance published