Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #18 in Bedford public Top 42% UK

Carlton CofE Primary School

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

personMrs Jo Bevis

location_onBedford, MK43 7JR

language Visit Website phone 1234720281

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

school

Expected Standard

67%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Carlton CofE Primary School is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Bedford, serving ages 2-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Ranks in the top 42% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

Carlton CofE Primary School is a voluntary controlled school in Bedford, admitting pupils aged 2-11. The school has approximately 95 pupils on roll, of whom 12% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #18 of 50 primaries in Bedford and #8,346 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.5 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

67%

LA 53%

Reading92% LA 70%

Writing92% LA 64%

Maths67% LA 66%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

57%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading71% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing64% LA 64% · Eng 72%

Maths79% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

58%

LA 51%England 60%

Reading68% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing74% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths84% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.5

Read

LA 0.2

-4.3 to 1.3

-2.7

Write

LA -1.2

-5.4 to 0.0

-1.3

Maths

LA -0.1

-4.0 to 1.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

89%

LA 55%England 65%

Reading100% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing100% LA 67% · Eng 78%

Maths89% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.2

Read

LA -1.5

-3.8 to 4.2

1.3

Write

LA -2.5

-2.4 to 5.0

-0.4

Maths

LA -2.1

-3.9 to 3.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 45%

Reading-% LA 56%

Writing-% LA 65%

Maths-% LA 57%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

LA -2.9

Write

LA -2.4

Maths

LA -2.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 November 2024

Inspection Report

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29 January 2013

Inspection Report

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07 January 2011

Inspection Report

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06 March 2008

Inspection Report

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22 November 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-11-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2013-01-29

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2008-03-06

None EIF

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

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 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 95 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below 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)	95	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	95	1	1.1%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	105	2	1.9%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	109	3	2.8%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	102	3	2.9%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	98	4	4.1%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	94	1	1.1%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	96	1	1.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	89	1	1.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	91	1	1.1%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	93	0	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	94	0	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	92	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	93	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	93	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	93	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	93	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	91	0	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	91	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	91	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	78	0	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	78	0	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	81	2	2.5%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	70	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	75	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	71	0	0.0%	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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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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 6 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 4 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Hearing Impairment 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.

86.0%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.

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree34%

agree55%

disagree9%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree32%

agree34%

disagree27%

strongly disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree34%

agree23%

disagree30%

not applicable14%

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

yes36%

no64%

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

strongly agree25%

agree19%

disagree38%

strongly disagree6%

dont know13%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree34%

agree34%

disagree16%

strongly disagree2%

don't know14%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree39%

agree39%

disagree20%

strongly disagree2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree36%

agree52%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

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

strongly agree43%

agree43%

disagree5%

strongly disagree2%

don't know7%

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

strongly agree41%

agree36%

disagree14%

strongly disagree7%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree43%

agree32%

disagree14%

strongly disagree2%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes70%

no30%

Top Primary Schools in Bedford

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Cotton End Forest School

Requires improvement

location_on Bedford, MK45 3AG

emoji_events #1 in LA

Cauldwell School

Good

location_on Bedford, MK42 9DR

emoji_events #2 in LA

Elstow School

Good

location_on Bedford, MK42 9GP

emoji_events #3 in LA

Great Denham Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Bedford, MK40 4GG

emoji_events #4 in LA

Hazeldene School

Good

location_on Bedford, MK41 9AT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Turvey Primary School

Good

location_on Bedford, MK43 8DY

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Bedford 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 Bedford

Cotton End Forest School

Cauldwell School

Elstow School

Great Denham Primary School

Hazeldene School

Turvey Primary School