UKSchoolSearch
OpenPrimaryURN 139547

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School

Academy converter · Bedford · MK40 4AT

Compare school

Phase

Primary

Age range

Ages 3–11

Pupils

271

Local authority

Bedford

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision snapshot

Based on official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth formDoes not have a sixth form
  • BoardingNo boarders
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (primary), Ages 3–11, in Bedford, Bedford, 271 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 34.7%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Northampton.

Open schools in Bedford
104
Primary schools in Bedford
67
Academies among open schools in Bedford
46% (48)
Open schools in MK40
11
Primary in MK40
8
Open schools in Bedford LA
86
Primary in Bedford LA
55

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in BedfordNear MK40

Overview

School type
Academy converter
Phase
Primary
Age range
3–11
Gender
Mixed
Status
Open
URN
139547

Location

Address
Biddenham Turn
Postcode
MK40 4AT
Town
Bedford
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Bedford
District
Bedford
Constituency
North Bedfordshire
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Size & intake

Pupil numbers and free school meals come from the GIAS school census fields. Capacity fill is calculated when both pupils and capacity are published. Census date: 15 Jan 2026.

Pupils on roll
271
Boys / girls
131 / 140
School capacity
525
Capacity fill
271 / 525 (52%)
Free school meals
34.7%
FSM pupils
86
Gender
Mixed

School characteristics

Nursery provision
Has Nursery Classes
Sixth form
Does not have a sixth form
Boarding
No boarders
Special classes
No Special Classes
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Northampton
Governance
Academy trust: OUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST LTD
Academy trust
OUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST LTD
Sponsor
Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Academies Trust (OLICAT)

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Gemma Otter
Telephone
01234352062
Website
https://www.stfrancisofassisiprimarybedford.co.uk/

Official links

Ofsted

Latest inspection outcomes from Ofsted monthly management information. Report-card grades use the current framework where published; older OEIF grades are shown when that is the latest graded inspection.

Headline

Good

Inspection date

2023-10-17

Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Read the Ofsted report

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results from DfE school and college performance tables. Figures are not rankings — suppressed or unavailable values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)
45%
Higher standard (RWM)
0%
Avg scaled score — reading
104.0
Avg scaled score — maths
102.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
102.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Pupil absence rates from DfE pupil absence in schools in England. Persistent absence means 10% or more of sessions missed; severe absence means 50% or more. Lower figures are better.

Academic year 2023/24

Overall absence

5.2%

Persistent absence

19.5%

Unauthorised

2.0%

Authorised absence
3.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.5%
Enrolments in measure
282

Recent years

2022/23
Overall 6.3% · Persistent 17.9%
2021/22
Overall 5.1% · Persistent 14.6%

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England