Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #4 in Bedford public Top 29% UK

Great Denham Primary School

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

personMrs Denise Burgess

corporate_fareThe Biddenham Campus Trust

location_onBedford, MK40 4GG

language Visit Website phone 1234266245

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

613

school

Expected Standard

72%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.1x

summarize

Great Denham Primary School is a Foundation school primary school in Bedford, serving ages 3-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 29% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Great Denham Primary School is a foundation school in Bedford, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of The Biddenham Campus Trust. The school has approximately 677 pupils on roll, of whom 16% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 7% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #4 of 50 primaries in Bedford and #2,491 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 Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 25.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 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

72%

LA 53%

Reading80% LA 70%

Writing79% LA 64%

Maths84% LA 66%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

68%

LA 54%England 61%

Reading88% LA 70% · Eng 74%

Writing80% LA 64% · Eng 72%

Maths78% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

70%

LA 51%England 60%

Reading81% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing78% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths80% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-0.1

Read

LA 0.2

-1.7 to 1.5

-0.9

Write

LA -1.2

-2.4 to 0.6

-0.4

Maths

LA -0.1

-1.9 to 1.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 55%England 65%

Reading75% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 67% · Eng 78%

Maths78% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.4

Read

LA -1.5

-3.0 to 0.2

-0.5

Write

LA -2.5

-2.0 to 0.9

-1.5

Maths

LA -2.1

-2.9 to -0.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

66%

LA 45%

Reading73% LA 56%

Writing82% LA 65%

Maths80% LA 57%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.5

Read

LA -2.9

-4.3 to -0.7

-1.1

Write

LA -2.4

-2.8 to 0.6

-1.8

Maths

LA -2.7

-3.4 to -0.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 May 2024

Inspection Report

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22 March 2023

Inspection Report

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06 December 2017

Inspection Report

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17 October 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-05-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-12-06

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-10-17

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

0.6%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.3%(2 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 677 pupils. During this period, there were 4 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.6%, 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	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	677	4	0.6%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	680	1	0.1%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	640	1	0.2%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	644	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	641	1	0.2%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	612	1	0.2%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	613	4	0.7%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	612	1	0.2%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	571	0	0.0%	0.5%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	570	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	569	2	0.4%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	559	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	560	1	0.2%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	559	0	0.0%	0.4%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	532	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	532	1	0.2%	0.4%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	535	4	0.7%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	504	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	506	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	507	7	1.4%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	473	4	0.8%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	471	2	0.4%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	472	8	1.7%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	456	3	0.7%	0.4%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	456	4	0.9%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	450	2	0.4%	0.5%	1

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 34 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 29 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 22 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 17 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 15 pupils

Hearing Impairment 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 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.

97.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree75%

agree22%

disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree85%

agree13%

strongly disagree1%

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

strongly agree48%

agree15%

disagree3%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

not applicable31%

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

yes20%

no80%

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

strongly agree62%

agree23%

disagree6%

strongly disagree8%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree67%

agree28%

disagree2%

don't know2%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree82%

agree16%

strongly disagree1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree65%

agree32%

disagree2%

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

strongly agree75%

agree23%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree72%

agree23%

disagree4%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree68%

agree25%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

Top Primary Schools in Bedford

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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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

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

Castle Newnham School

Outstanding

location_on Bedford, MK40 3EP

emoji_events #7 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

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.

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

Hazeldene School

Turvey Primary School

Castle Newnham School