Classpot

John Donne Church of England Primary School

Central Bedfordshire, MK44 3NLPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Nov 2023
KS2 Results
42%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
11 1st-choice / 11 places
Ranking
#12,277
of 13,686 nationally

About John Donne Church of England Primary School

John Donne Church of England Primary School sits within Central Bedfordshire’s primary landscape, where it ranks 27th out of 34 schools of its type in the local authority, placing it in the bottom half of the table. The top-performing peers in the area — Lark Rise Academy, Totternhoe Church of England Academy, and Raynsford Church of England Academy — all score considerably higher on the same ranking metric. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in November 2023, rated its overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2012. Every category assessed — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — was judged to require improvement. With 121 pupils on roll against a capacity of 208, the school is significantly under-enrolled, though it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 reception places, receiving 17 applications for 11 places and making 11 first-preference offers.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressHigh Street, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, MK44 3NL
HeadteacherAnita Whitehurst
Local AuthorityCentral Bedfordshire
Number of Pupils121
Free School Meals (FSM)17.0%
School Capacity121 / 208 (58% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

28 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

Source: Ofsted, 25 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Sensory RoomSports HallOutdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolPlaying FieldsLibraryICT SuiteMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

RoundersNetballFootballCross CountryAthleticsCricketSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubBook ClubDrama

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:00 – 15:30

Breakfast club

08:00-09:00

After-school care

15:30-17:30

Source: johndonne.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About John Donne Church of England Primary School

John Donne Church of England Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.