UKSchoolSearch
ClosedPrimaryURN 109614

St James' Church of England VA Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Bedford · MK40 4BD

Ages 5–11 · 192 pupils · Bedford

Overall absence

3.7%

Admissions demand

0.83 · Often has places

Absence

Academic year 2021/22. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence3.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)7.9%
Unauthorised0.3%
Authorised absence
3.4%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.0%
Enrolments in measure
165

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2022/23 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

0.83 · Often has places

1st preferences

24

Places offered

30

1st-preference offers

24

Total preferences (any rank)
103
Preferred offers (top 3)
30
Applications from outside LA
1
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 (20 Jan 2022).

Capacity fill91%

192 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
192
Boys / girls
94 / 98
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
192 / 210 (91%)
Free school meals
15.1%
FSM pupils
29
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 5–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Church of England
Diocese
Diocese of St Albans
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Ms Maria Soulsby

Location

Address
Main Road, Biddenham
Postcode
MK40 4BD
Town
Bedford
County
Bedfordshire
Local authority
Bedford
District
Bedford
Constituency
North East Bedfordshire
Urban/rural
(England/Wales) Rural hamlet and isolated dwellings

Local context

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

Mixed voluntary aided school (primary), Ages 5–11, in Bedford, Bedford, 192 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 15.1%. Religious character: Church of England. Diocese: Diocese of St Albans.

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

  • St James' CofE Academy

    Ofsted: Standards maintained

    Academy converter · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4BD · Bedford

    Ages 5–11

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

    0.0 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

    0.5 miles away

  • Westfield Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 4HW · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

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

    0.7 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

    0.8 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

    0.8 miles away

  • Bromham CofE Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Bedford · MK43 8NR · Bedford

    Ages 4–11

    • KS257%
    • Absence3.9%
    • FSM9.1%
    • Demand0.95

    1.3 miles away

  • Livingstone Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Foundation school · Primary

    Bedford · MK41 7LG · Bedford

    Ages 2–11

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

    1.4 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Ms Maria Soulsby

Official links