Wilden CofE VA Primary School

About Wilden CofE VA Primary School

Wilden CofE VA Primary School has turned a corner academically, with its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024 awarding an overall rating of Good, a clear step up from the Requires Improvement it received in its previous inspection in 2022. The school’s progress is particularly evident in its early years provision and personal development, both of which were judged Outstanding. On the core academic measure, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure sits comfortably above the local authority average of 57% for Bedford, placing Wilden 9th out of 46 primary schools in the area and inside the top 50 nationally for this metric. The school’s ranking score of 70 reflects strong performance, though it is worth noting that none of its pupils reached the higher standard in all three subjects.

Looking more closely at the individual subject scores, the picture is solid. In reading, 80% of pupils reached the expected standard and 20% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 105. Maths tells a similar story: 80% at the expected level, an average score of 104, and no pupils reaching the higher threshold. Writing also saw 80% meeting expectations, with 20% working at greater depth. The school does not publish progress scores for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to compare how much value it adds relative to other schools. However, the combination of above-average attainment and a Good Ofsted rating suggests that the school is delivering consistent outcomes for its small cohort. With only 44 pupils on roll, these percentages represent very small numbers of children, so individual results can shift the figures significantly from year to year.

Wilden is a Church of England voluntary aided primary school in Bedford, catering for children aged 2 to 11, and it has a nursery provision on site. The school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 14 applications for just 5 places, with all 5 first-preference families offered a spot, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.8. Facilities include a forest school, chapel, library, music rooms and an ICT suite, and the school runs clubs ranging from coding and chess to eco club and choir. On the sports front, pupils can try cricket, netball, dance, cross country, football, swimming and athletics. The school identifies specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia as a SEND focus. This is a small, faith-based village school that suits families who value a tight-knit community, strong early years provision, and a setting where every child is known individually, but who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Wilden CofE VA Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents