Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available

Leedon Lower School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Richard Benson

location_onLeighton Buzzard, LU7 3LZ

language Visit Website phone 1525374713

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

435

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Demand Ratio

0.7x

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Leedon Lower School is a Community school primary school in Leighton Buzzard, serving ages 2-9. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

Leedon Lower School is a community school in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 2-9. The school has approximately 366 pupils on roll, of whom 18% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 25.3:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 4.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

27 June 2023

Inspection Report

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21 May 2019

Inspection Report

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28 June 2018

Inspection Report

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15 July 2014

Inspection Report

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11 January 2013

Inspection Report

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14 November 2012

Inspection Report

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09 June 2010

Inspection Report

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21 February 2007

Inspection Report

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09 September 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-06-27

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-05-21

S5 Inspection Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2018-06-28

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-07-15

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

5.5%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.4%(5 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 366 pupils. During this period, there were 20 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 5.5%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	366	20	5.5%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	354	15	4.2%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	404	12	3.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	394	11	2.8%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	380	17	4.5%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	433	16	3.7%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	435	16	3.7%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	423	3	0.7%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	426	1	0.2%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	432	2	0.5%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	415	3	0.7%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	409	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	399	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	390	1	0.3%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	438	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	438	7	1.6%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	435	7	1.6%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	424	1	0.2%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	425	5	1.2%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	418	5	1.2%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	404	14	3.5%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	402	4	1.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	392	2	0.5%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	370	1	0.3%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	368	3	0.8%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	362	2	0.6%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 25 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 16 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 2 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

98.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree39%

agree54%

disagree5%

don't know2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree46%

agree36%

disagree14%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree24%

disagree12%

don't know1%

not applicable26%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no87%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree38%

agree31%

disagree31%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree43%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know6%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree38%

disagree5%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree44%

agree42%

disagree13%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree33%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree34%

disagree1%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree51%

agree34%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes91%

no9%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

The Vale Academy

Lark Rise Academy

Clifton All Saints Academy

Raynsford Church of England Academy

Derwent Primary School

Slip End Village School