Bushmead Primary & Nursery School

About Bushmead Primary & Nursery School

Bushmead Primary & Nursery School sits comfortably above the local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 65% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to Luton's average of 62%. That three-point gap might not sound enormous, but it places the school 15th out of 37 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top half of Luton's state primaries. The school is also performing well above the national average in maths, where 82% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score hit 106. Reading and writing are slightly lower but still respectable, with 75% and 72% reaching the expected level respectively. Where Bushmead really stands out is in the proportion of pupils hitting the higher standard in maths — 29% — which is a strong indicator of depth of learning. That said, only 1% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, suggesting that while the school is solidly good, it isn't pushing a large cohort into the top tier simultaneously.

The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, awarded a Good rating across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a clean sweep of Good grades, and it's worth noting that the previous inspection in 2013 also rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding at that time. The consistency is reassuring. In terms of progress measures, the data is unfortunately not available for reading, writing or maths, so we can't say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. However, the raw attainment figures are solid, and the school's ranking in the East of England region places it in the top 60% nationally. For a large primary with 703 pupils on roll, maintaining this level of performance across such a big cohort is no small feat.

Bushmead is a popular school, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 188 applications for 89 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.11 applicants per place. Of the 103 first-preference applications, 85 were offered places, so being first choice gives you a strong chance but not a guarantee. The school has a nursery provision for children from age 2, which is a useful option for local families. Facilities are generous for a state primary: a library, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, ICT suite, gymnasium, playing fields, and even a chapel. SEND support covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, and autistic spectrum disorder. Sports include netball, cricket, rounders, football and athletics, and there are clubs for coding, drama, eco, science and art. This is a well-equipped, well-run school that suits families looking for consistent Good provision with strong maths outcomes and a broad range of enrichment.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bushmead Primary & Nursery School

Helpful Guides for Parents