Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #30 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 93% UK

St Swithun's Church of England VC Primary School

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

personMrs Anita Whitehurst

location_onSandy, SG19 1AX

language Visit Website phone 1767680692

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2017

groups

Students

224

school

Expected Standard

38%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.2x

summarize

St Swithun's Church of England VC Primary School is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Sandy, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 93% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

St Swithun's Church of England VC Primary School is a voluntary controlled school in Sandy, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 3-11. The school has approximately 196 pupils on roll, of whom 18% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #30 of 36 primaries in Central Bedfordshire and #13,420 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.6 per 1,000 pupils per term.

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

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

38%

LA 50%

Reading50% LA 68%

Writing62% LA 62%

Maths42% LA 62%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

41%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading74% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing70% LA 61% · Eng 72%

Maths44% LA 62% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

46%

LA 48%England 60%

Reading73% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths50% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA -1.4

-3.9 to 1.0

0.8

Write

LA -2.4

-1.6 to 3.2

-7.2

Maths

LA -2.0

-9.5 to -4.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

72%

LA 57%England 65%

Reading76% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 71% · Eng 78%

Maths72% LA 69% · Eng 79%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.2

Read

LA -2.0

-2.8 to 2.3

-0.9

Write

LA -2.1

-3.1 to 1.4

-1.6

Maths

LA -2.3

-3.8 to 0.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 55%

Reading-% LA 66%

Writing-% LA 70%

Maths-% LA 65%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -2.2

Write

LA -1.9

Maths

LA -2.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 December 2022

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

19 January 2017

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

24 April 2012

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

24 November 2008

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

19 October 2005

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

22 November 1999

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2017-01-19

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-04-24

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

4.1%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.5%(3 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 196 pupils. During this period, there were 8 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.1%, 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	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	196	8	4.1%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	198	6	3.0%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	222	4	1.8%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	227	9	4.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	235	3	1.3%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	236	5	2.1%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	224	3	1.3%	0.6%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	219	1	0.5%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	220	3	1.4%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	215	8	3.7%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	209	8	3.8%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	232	1	0.4%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	229	1	0.4%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	221	5	2.3%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	236	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	236	1	0.4%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	223	1	0.4%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	227	1	0.4%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	233	18	7.7%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	226	8	3.5%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	222	1	0.5%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	216	1	0.5%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	199	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	183	1	0.5%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	179	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	169	0	0.0%	0.5%	1

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

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

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 14 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 8 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

11.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree35%

agree58%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree49%

agree44%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree33%

agree33%

disagree14%

not applicable21%

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

yes26%

no74%

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

strongly agree55%

agree36%

disagree9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree42%

agree49%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree40%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree40%

agree47%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree35%

agree51%

disagree2%

strongly disagree2%

don't know9%

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

strongly agree44%

agree40%

disagree7%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree37%

agree44%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes95%

no5%

Top Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

The Vale Academy

Requires improvement

location_on Dunstable, LU5 4QP

emoji_events #1 in LA

Lark Rise Academy

Outstanding

location_on Dunstable, LU6 3PT

emoji_events #2 in LA

Clifton All Saints Academy

Good

location_on Near Shefford, SG17 5ES

emoji_events #3 in LA

Raynsford Church of England Academy

Good

location_on Henlow, SG16 6AT

emoji_events #4 in LA

Derwent Primary School

Good

location_on Henlow, SG16 6BA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Slip End Village School

Good

location_on Luton, LU1 4DD

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Central Bedfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

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