Cotton End Forest School

Primary
Local authority maintained
Ages 2 to 11

Ofsted judgements: Good

High Road, Cotton End, Bedford, MK45 3AGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Cotton End Forest School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 84 schools in Bedford. It ranks 9th of 52 primary schools in Bedford. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 20 May 2025, report published 29 June 2025

This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.

Quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good
Early years provision: Good
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

30 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths77%

77%, 15 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score107

107, 1 above the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score106

106, 1 above the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score107

107, 2 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

435 pupils on roll, with places for 630

Eligible for free school meals17.7%

17.7%, 8.8 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language10.6%

10.6%, 11 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support17.5%

17.5%, 2.7 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.8%

4.8%, 1.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Cotton End Forest School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Shortstown Primary School	1 mile	Report card: Expected standard	60% met the expected standard
Wilstead Primary School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published
Lakeview School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published
Wixams Tree Primary Academy	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	60% met the expected standard
Haynes Lower School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published

School details

School type: Community school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 2 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Nursery classes: Yes
Headteacher: Mrs Karen Headland
Phone: 01234740100
Website: cottonendforestschool.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: High Road, Cotton End, Bedford, MK45 3AG
Local authority: Bedford
URN: 109446

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.