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OpenPrimaryOfsted: GoodURN 139547

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School

Academy converter · Bedford · MK40 4AT

Ages 3–11 · 271 pupils · Bedford

School website

Ofsted

Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

35%

Overall absence

5.2%

Admissions demand

0.94 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

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

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)35%
Higher standard (RWM)2%
Avg scaled score — reading
102.0
Avg scaled score — maths
100.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
102.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.5%
Unauthorised2.0%
Authorised absence
3.2%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.5%
Enrolments in measure
282

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.94 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

32

Places offered

34

1st-preference offers

32

Total preferences (any rank)
49
Preferred offers (top 3)
34
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill52%

271 pupils · 525 places

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 type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Northampton
Special classes
No Special Classes
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)
Headteacher
Mrs Gemma Otter

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

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

  • Westfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4HW · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM20.8%
    • Demand0.83

    0.3 miles away

  • Queen's Park Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4HA · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

    • KS249%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM32.4%
    • Demand0.98

    0.3 miles away

  • Great Ouse Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Free schools · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4TJ · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

    • KS278%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM18.7%
    • Demand0.96

    0.4 miles away

  • St James' CofE Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4BD · Bedford

    Ages 5–11

    • KS252%
    • Absence4.6%
    • FSM18.0%
    • Demand1.07

    0.6 miles away

  • Great Denham Primary School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Foundation school · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4GG · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM12.9%
    • Demand1.07

    0.8 miles away

  • Priory Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Foundation school · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 1JD · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

    • KS246%
    • Absence5.9%
    • FSM26.2%
    • Demand1.77

    0.8 miles away

  • Livingstone Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Foundation school · Primary

    Bedford · MK41 7LG · Bedford

    Ages 2–11

    • KS256%
    • Absence5.6%
    • FSM36.0%
    • Demand0.95

    0.8 miles away

  • Edith Cavell Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Foundation school · Primary

    Bedford · MK41 7NH · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

    • KS257%
    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM36.0%
    • Demand1.00

    0.9 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

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

Official links