Thurleigh Primary School
85%
Capacity
89
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Thurleigh Primary School
Thurleigh Primary School punches well above the local average for its type. In the most recent Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Bedford local authority average of just 57%. That 23-point gap is significant and places the school first out of 46 primary schools in the borough. The school also ranks in the top 10% nationally for this measure. This strong headline performance is backed up by solid average scores of 107 in maths and 109 in reading, and notably high proportions of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading (60%) and maths (30%). For a small school with just 89 pupils on roll, these results suggest a focused, effective approach to core learning.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Good overall, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2021. Inspectors awarded Outstanding grades for both behaviour and attitudes and personal development, and Good for quality of education, leadership and management, and early years provision. The Progress 8 measure is not available for primary schools, but the KS2 outcomes speak for themselves. With 26.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school is serving a community with above-average disadvantage, yet its results outpace many more affluent peers. The school has a nursery provision for children from age 3, and the headteacher is Debonair Brown.
Thurleigh Primary is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 21 applications for 13 places, with all 13 first-preference applicants offered a spot. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a forest school, ICT suite, library, art studios, music rooms, and playing fields. Sports on offer include cricket, gymnastics, netball and swimming, and clubs include chess, choir and film club. The SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities among others. This is a small, community-focused primary that delivers strong academic outcomes and has clearly impressed inspectors with its pupils’ behaviour and personal development. It would suit families who value a tight-knit setting with proven results and a wide range of enrichment opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | High Street, Bedford, Bedford, MK44 2DB |
| Headteacher | Debonair Brown |
| Local Authority | Bedford |
| Number of Pupils | 89 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.5% |
| School Capacity | 89 / 105 (85% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (80%)
1424th of 13,686
Nationally
130th of 1,612
In East of England
1st of 46
In Bedford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
80%
Expected Standard
10%
Higher Standard
'22/23
81%
'23/24
80%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed13
21
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
13 families put this school as their 1st choice (62% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:20
Source: thurleighprimary.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British68.5%
- Mixed21.3%
- White (other)3.4%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
1
Total schools
1
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Thurleigh Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
High Street, Bedford
Bedford, MK44 2DB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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