Derwent Primary School

About Derwent Primary School

Derwent Primary School in Central Bedfordshire holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across both its most recent inspections. The school’s most informative exam metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which stood at 53% in the 2023/24 academic year. This places the school just one percentage point below the local authority average of 54%, meaning Derwent is broadly in line with its Central Bedfordshire peers. In the local rankings, it sits 21st out of 34 primary schools, putting it in the bottom half of the authority. The school’s reading and maths average scores were 105 and 103 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100, while 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading and maths individually. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard across all three subjects was just 7%, a figure that suggests stretch for the most able pupils is an area to watch.

Digging deeper into the Ofsted picture, the school’s most recent graded inspection took place in January 2014, where it received a Good overall with Good marks for leadership and management. An ungraded inspection in July 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, though no new graded judgements were issued for individual categories. The previous graded inspection in 2011 had rated leadership and management as Requires Improvement, so the improvement to Good in 2014 represents a clear step forward. With 371 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is not at full capacity, and 13.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, slightly below the national average. The school offers nursery provision for children from age three, and its SEND provisions cover a wide range of needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social and emotional mental health support.

Derwent is a popular choice locally, with 100 applications for 59 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.69 applicants per place. Of those, 54 were first-preference applications, and 51 first-preference offers were made, so most families who put it first were successful. The school’s facilities include art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite, a sensory room and playing fields, and it offers a range of clubs such as drama, choir, science club and art club. Sports on offer include swimming, cricket, dance, rounders and football. For families seeking a primary school with strong SEND support and a broad extracurricular programme, Derwent is a solid, well-regarded option within Central Bedfordshire, though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to compare it with higher-ranked local schools like Lark Rise Academy or Totternhoe Church of England Academy.

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