Watling Lower School
Ofsted: Some aspects not as strongAcademy converter · Primary
Dunstable · LU6 3BJ · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 2–9
- FSM7.5%
0.3 miles away
OpenAll-throughOfsted: School remains GoodURN 138181
Priory Academy
Academy converter · Dunstable · LU5 4JA
Ages 9–16 · 830 pupils · Central Bedfordshire
Ofsted
School remains Good
Attainment 8
41.7
Overall absence
7.6%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
School remains Good
Inspection date
2023-06-14
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Progress 8-0.21
−20+2
Attainment 841.7
English & maths grade 5+42%
English & maths grade 4+62%
EBacc entry67%
EBacc APS: 3.9
Key stage 2 (2023/24)
Expected standard (RWM)67%
Higher standard (RWM)3%
- Avg scaled score — reading
- 106.0
- Avg scaled score — maths
- 104.0
- Avg scaled score — GPS
- 106.0
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence7.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)20.2%
Unauthorised2.1%
- Authorised absence
- 5.5%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 2.2%
- Enrolments in measure
- 803
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill119%
830 pupils · 700 places
- Pupils on roll
- 830
- Boys / girls
- 436 / 394
- School capacity
- 700
- Capacity fill
- 830 / 700 (119%)
- Free school meals
- 14.8%
- FSM pupils
- 123
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Academy converter
Age range
Ages 9–16
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
1 / 6
- Nursery
- Sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- No Special Classes
- Governance
- Academy trust: SCHOLARS' EDUCATION TRUST
- Academy trust
- SCHOLARS' EDUCATION TRUST
- Sponsor
- Scholars' Education Trust
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Bailey
Location
- Address
- Priory Academy, Britain Street
- Postcode
- LU5 4JA
- Town
- Dunstable
- County
- Bedfordshire
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- District
- Central Bedfordshire
- Constituency
- Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard
- Urban/rural
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed academy converter (all-through), Ages 9–16, in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, 830 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy. Free school meals: 14.8%.
Nearby all-through schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Dunstable Icknield Lower School
Ofsted: Requires improvementAcademy converter · Primary
Dunstable · LU6 3AG · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 3–9
- FSM16.7%
0.4 miles away
Ardley Hill Academy
Ofsted: GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Dunstable · LU6 3NZ · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 2–11
- KS242%
- Absence6.2%
- FSM12.8%
- Demand0.91
0.6 miles away
St. Augustine's Academy
Ofsted: School remains GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Dunstable · LU5 4AS · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 4–11
- KS254%
- Absence7.9%
- FSM40.1%
- Demand0.93
0.6 miles away
Other independent special school
Dunstable · LU5 4QL · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 5–18
0.6 miles away
Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School
Ofsted: Expected standardVoluntary aided school · Primary
Dunstable · LU6 1EW · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 5–11
- KS257%
- Absence5.2%
- FSM15.1%
- Demand1.10
0.6 miles away
Queensbury Academy
Ofsted: Not judgedAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Dunstable · LU6 3BU · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 11–19
- Att839.9
- P8-0.6
- EM5+35%
- Absence9.8%
0.7 miles away
Hadrian Academy
Ofsted: School remains GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Dunstable · LU5 4SR · Central Bedfordshire
Ages 4–11
- KS264%
- Absence4.9%
- FSM10.4%
- Demand1.18
0.8 miles away
New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.
Contact
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Bailey
- Telephone
- 01582661158