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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 148982

St James' CofE Academy

Academy converter · Bedford · MK40 4BD

Ages 5–11 · 194 pupils · Bedford

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

KS2 expected (RWM)

52%

Overall absence

4.6%

Admissions demand

1.07 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2025-03-23

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)52%
Higher standard (RWM)6%
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

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

Overall absence4.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)11.7%
Unauthorised0.9%
Authorised absence
3.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.6%
Enrolments in measure
179

Absence trend

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

1.07 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

32

Places offered

30

1st-preference offers

29

Total preferences (any rank)
94
Preferred offers (top 3)
30
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 fill92%

194 pupils · 210 places

Pupils on roll
194
Boys / girls
109 / 85
School capacity
210
Capacity fill
194 / 210 (92%)
Free school meals
18%
FSM pupils
35
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 5–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 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
Academy trust: DIOCESE OF ST ALBANS MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
DIOCESE OF ST ALBANS MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Diocese of St Albans
Headteacher
Mrs Alison Barden

Location

Address
Main Road, Biddenham
Postcode
MK40 4BD
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 5–11, in Bedford, Bedford, 194 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy. Free school meals: 18%. 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

  • 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

  • Priory Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Foundation school · Primary

    Bedford · MK40 1JD · Bedford

    Ages 3–11

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

    1.4 miles away

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Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Alison Barden
Telephone
01234352721
Website
http://www.stjamesprimary.org.uk/

Official links