Biggleswade Academy
Mead End, Biggleswade, SG18 8JUOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Biggleswade Academy is a primary school in Biggleswade for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 134 schools in Central Bedfordshire. It ranks 1st of 2 primary schools in Biggleswade. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 May 2024, report published 9 June 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Requires improvement
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 1 May 2024
Pupils are extremely polite and friendly at Biggleswade Academy. The four virtues of ambition, determination, respect and integrity permeate school life. Throughout the school, pupils demonstrate these virtues. They are proud when the adults recognise this. From early years through to Year 8, pupils come into school happily each day. They thrive in the safety of the school environments, both at The Lawns and at the school's main campus. They enjoy social time in the dining room or in the school's extensive outdoor spaces. Pupils respect learning. In the classrooms, they are very attentive to their teachers' clear explanations. Pupils know the adults have high expectations of them and are keen to meet these. As a result, most pupils achieve well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). There is an increasingly wide-ranging programme of extra-curricular activities. Pupils can choose from a range of clubs, including yoga, singing, chess and a variety of sports. Memorable trips, such as a visit to Shuttleworth Museum or a faith tour of different places of worship, enrich the curriculum. Other trips to Thorpe Park or Legoland, for example, give pupils the chance to let off steam and have fun.
What the school should improve
- There are inconsistencies in the curriculum and where it starts. In some areas, curriculum planning does not start in early years. This means that, in these areas, children are not as well prepared for different subjects in key stage 1 as they could be. The school should ensure that curriculum planning starts in its nursery and preschool, so that children have the foundational skills and knowledge they need by the time they enter key stage 1.
- In the early years, there are differences in the level of staff's expertise in working with the youngest children. Not all staff have received the same training. Therefore, sometimes children are not effectively supported and learning opportunities are sometimes missed. The school should ensure that staff are appropriately trained so that, across all parts of the early years provision, children get a consistently high quality of education.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
124 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
839 pupils on roll, with places for 957
Schools near Biggleswade Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawnside Academy | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| St Andrew's CofE VC Primary School | 0.9 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Not published |
| Langford Village Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 62% met the expected standard |
| Caldecote Church of England Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Dunton CofE Junior School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- LIFE ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Steer
- Phone
- 01767660515
- Address
- Mead End, Biggleswade, SG18 8JU
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- URN
- 137947
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.