Biggleswade Academy
91%
Capacity
875
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Biggleswade Academy
Biggleswade Academy, a large state primary in Central Bedfordshire, has held a Good rating from Ofsted across its two most recent inspections, the latest of which took place in 2024. The most telling academic metric for this school is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2. At 72%, this figure sits well above the local authority average of 54%, placing the school sixth out of 34 primaries in Central Bedfordshire and in the top 25% nationally. The Ofsted report itself backs this up, awarding Good marks for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The early years provision, however, was rated Requires Improvement, which is worth noting for parents of younger children.
Looking deeper at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school's strengths are clear. In reading, 79% of pupils met the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 105. Maths performed similarly, with 79% at the expected level and an average score of 106. Writing was slightly lower at 75% reaching the expected standard. At the higher standard, the picture is more modest: just 3% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, though 28% did so in maths alone and 24% in reading. The school's overall ranking score of 72 places it among the top 50 primaries in the East of England region, though it sits behind local peers like Lark Rise Academy and Totternhoe Church of England Academy, which scored 82 and 80 respectively.
Biggleswade Academy is a large school with 875 pupils on roll, operating well within its capacity of 957. It offers nursery provision for children from age two and has a chapel, library, sports hall, ICT suite and playing fields. Sports on offer include athletics, football, gymnastics and cricket, while clubs range from Eco Club and Science Club to Drama and Film Club. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 150 applications for 109 places and 68 first-preference offers made. It provides support for a range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health. This is a solid, well-regarded local school that delivers above-average academic outcomes, particularly in maths and reading, and suits families who value a broad range of activities alongside strong core results.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Mead End, Biggleswade, Central Bedfordshire, SG18 8JU |
| Headteacher | Mark Steer |
| Local Authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 875 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.3% |
| School Capacity | 875 / 957 (91% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (72%)
3479th of 13,686
Nationally
346th of 1,612
In East of England
6th of 34
In Central Bedfordshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
72%
Expected Standard
3%
Higher Standard
'22/23
67%
'23/24
72%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed109
150
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
69 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British77.8%
- Mixed7.4%
- White (other)3.0%
- Asian3.0%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
4
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
3
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Biggleswade Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Mead End, Biggleswade
Central Bedfordshire, SG18 8JU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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