Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School

About Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School

Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School in Bedford holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its previous inspection in 2009. The most recent ungraded inspection in June 2024 confirmed the school continues to deliver a Good standard of education, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all rated Good. On the key academic metric for primary schools, the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined stood at 46% in the 2023/24 academic year. This places the school below the local authority average of 57% for Bedford, and ranks it 36th out of 46 primary schools in the area. The school’s ranking score of 46 puts it in the bottom half of schools nationally, though the small cohort of just 79 pupils means individual results can fluctuate significantly from year to year.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, reading was the strongest subject with 77% of pupils reaching the expected standard and 31% achieving a higher standard. In writing, 69% met expectations and 15% reached the higher level. Maths saw 62% at the expected standard and 23% at the higher level, with an average scaled score of 103. The combined higher standard figure for reading, writing and maths was 15%. These outcomes suggest a school where reading provision is a particular strength, while maths attainment is more in line with national averages. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. With only 10.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively less disadvantaged intake than many in the area.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 17 applications for just 7 places and all 7 first-preference applicants receiving offers. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.43, indicating strong local demand. Facilities include an ICT suite, music rooms, a sports hall, dining hall and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers football, netball, rounders, dance, cross country, cricket and gymnastics, while clubs include drama, gardening and choir. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With a capacity of 105 and only 79 pupils on roll, there is some physical space available, though the oversubscription suggests it is a popular choice among local families, particularly those seeking a small, church-affiliated primary with a strong reading focus.

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