Hazeldene School

About Hazeldene School

Hazeldene School, a state primary in Bedford, performs notably above the local authority average on the key headline metric for KS2. While the Bedford average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 57%, Hazeldene achieves 68% — a clear 11-point advantage. This places the school 13th out of 54 primary schools in the authority, comfortably in the top quarter. The school’s ranking score of 68 puts it within the top 50 nationally by this measure, though it sits behind the very top performers in the area like Thurleigh Primary and Sharnbrook Primary, both scoring 80. Hazeldene is a larger-than-average primary with 437 pupils against a capacity of 450, and it has a nursery provision for children from age three. The school is non-denominational and mixed, with a headteacher, Mark Wilson, who has been in post through a period of consistent Ofsted judgement.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 KS2 results, Hazeldene’s performance is solid across the core subjects. In maths, 78% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 105, with 30% reaching the higher standard. Reading was similar: 77% at expected, an average score of 105, and 22% at the higher level. Writing saw 78% at expected and 18% at the higher standard. The combined expected rate of 68% is the headline figure, but the school also shows strength in the higher standard, with 12% of pupils achieving that across all three subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, which was ungraded and took place in October 2024, inspectors judged that standards were maintained, and the school retains its overall Good rating. The graded inspection from January 2016 rated leadership and management as Good, and the early years provision was judged Outstanding. The previous graded inspection in 2011 also rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management Outstanding at that time.

The school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 163 applications for 60 places, with 69 first-preference applications and 60 offers made to first-preference families. That oversubscription ratio of 2.72 means competition is real, so being in catchment or having a sibling link will matter. Facilities include a gymnasium, art studios, music rooms, a sensory room, and a forest school, plus an outdoor playground. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming, athletics, tennis and dance, and there are clubs such as science club, choir, film club and eco club. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, physical disability, and other difficulties. Parent View responses, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, are overwhelmingly positive: 99% of the 107 respondents said their child is happy, 98% said they feel safe, and 95% would recommend the school. This is a school that suits families who want strong academic outcomes in a well-subscribed, well-equipped setting with good early years provision and a clear focus on SEND support.

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