Classpot

The Mary Bassett Lower School

Central Bedfordshire, LU7 1ARPrimaryAges 2–9MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2024
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
55 1st-choice / 60 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About The Mary Bassett Lower School

The Mary Bassett Lower School is a state primary in Central Bedfordshire that serves children from age 2 to 9, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. With 383 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is running close to full, and the demand is evident from its admission data for the 2025/26 intake. The school received 116 applications for just 60 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.93, meaning nearly two families applied for every spot. Of those, 55 were first-preference applications, and only 50 first-preference offers were made, so even families who put it top of their list faced competition. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 16.8%, which is slightly below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a broadly mixed but not disadvantaged-heavy intake. The school does not have a religious character, so its appeal is purely based on its local reputation and offerings.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBassett Road, Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, LU7 1AR
HeadteacherHilary Wheeldon
Local AuthorityCentral Bedfordshire
Number of Pupils383
Free School Meals (FSM)16.8%
School Capacity383 / 420 (91% 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

22 May 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 10 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
ICT SuiteSports HallGymnasiumArt StudiosForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

FootballNetballCross CountryGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Art ClubBook ClubEco ClubGardeningChoir

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

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Mary Bassett Lower School

The Mary Bassett Lower School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.