Ursula Taylor Church of England School
86%
Capacity
361
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About Ursula Taylor Church of England School
Ursula Taylor Church of England School is a state primary in Bedford, one of only three schools in the local authority to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted. It ranks 11th out of 46 primary schools in Bedford on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it comfortably in the top quarter locally. The top-performing peers in the area are Thurleigh Primary School, Sharnbrook Primary, and Harrold Primary Academy, all of which score higher on the same metric, but Ursula Taylor stands out for its strong Church of England character and its recent inspection success. Headteacher Katherine Hall leads a school that is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 41 applications for 33 places, with 31 of those coming as first preferences. That level of demand reflects a school that local families clearly rate highly, and the 91% of parents who would recommend it to others backs that up.
Academically, Ursula Taylor delivers solid results. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the Bedford local authority average of 57%. Reading was a particular strength, with 88% of pupils meeting the expected standard and 29% reaching the higher standard. Maths scores were also strong, with an average scaled score of 104 and 73% at the expected level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 awarded Outstanding across every graded category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a clear improvement from its previous Good rating in 2011. Parents overwhelmingly feel the school has high expectations for their children, with 86% agreeing or strongly agreeing, and 90% saying their child does well.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, forest school, sensory room, and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports on offer include gymnastics, athletics, swimming, netball, dance, cross country, and tennis, while clubs range from drama and choir to gardening and eco club. SEND provision is well established, covering moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and hearing impairment. However, parent views on SEND support are mixed: 75% agree or strongly agree that children get the support they need, but 25% disagree. With 20.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. For families seeking a church school with strong academic outcomes and a clear moral framework, Ursula Taylor is a compelling choice, though its oversubscribed status means applying early is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | High Street, Bedford, Bedford, MK41 6EG |
| Headteacher | Katherine Hall |
| Local Authority | Bedford |
| Number of Pupils | 361 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 20.2% |
| School Capacity | 361 / 420 (86% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Apr 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Jun 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (69%)
4557th of 13,686
Nationally
474th of 1,612
In East of England
11th of 46
In Bedford
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
69%
Expected Standard
4%
Higher Standard
'22/23
43%
'23/24
69%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
88 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed33
41
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
31 families put this school as their 1st choice (76% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:30
Breakfast club
07:30-08:45
After-school care
15:30-18:00
Source: ursulataylorschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British61.5%
- Mixed11.9%
- Asian7.0%
- White (other)6.6%
- Black0.8%
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 Ursula Taylor Church of England 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, MK41 6EG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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