Hockliffe Lower School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 4 to 9
Ofsted judgements: Good

Woburn Road, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9LLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Hockliffe Lower School is a primary school in Leighton Buzzard for ages 4 to 9. It is one of the 134 schools in Central Bedfordshire. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 11 March 2025, report published 28 April 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

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 11 March 2025

Pupils enjoy coming to this small village school. Pupils are well cared for through the strong pastoral support they receive. Mixed-age classes help pupils develop good relationships with each other. Staff know pupils very well. This helps pupils to feel safe. Pupils know they can talk to a trusted adult if they have a worry. Starting in Reception, staff help children learn school routines quickly. They follow these routines well. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour and attitudes towards learning. In the main, pupils meet these expectations and show enjoyment in their learning. They engage in lessons, typically listen well to adult instruction and try their best. There are many opportunities for pupils to take on roles of responsibility in the school. Pupils speak with pride about their roles. Assembly monitors, sports leaders, milk monitors and play leaders all help and support other pupils in the school. School council members make sure that everyone join in with school activities and help improve the school environment for others. They help share information with other pupils by leading assemblies on important topics such as having positive mental health.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects the curriculum is still being embedded. The school is not evaluating effectively how well these subjects are being delivered. As a result, pupils do not always make as much progress as they could. The school should develop its monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure curriculum improvements support pupils to make more progress in their learning.
  • Sometimes, teaching does not precisely meet the needs of mixed-aged classes. This means that pupils do not always learn all they should. The school should ensure that staff develop their expertise to teach mixed-aged classes effectively so pupils learn and remember information more securely.

Pupil numbers and mix

67 pupils on roll, with places for 75

Eligible for free school meals4.5%

4.5%, 22 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language13.4%

13.4%, 8.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support9%

9%, 5.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3%

3%, 3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Hockliffe Lower School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Stanbridge Lower School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Beaudesert Lower School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Toddington St George Church of England School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Parkfields Middle School2 milesOfsted: Good50% met the expected standard
Gilbert Inglefield Academy3 milesReport card: Urgent improvementNot published

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
KINGSBRIDGE EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Age range
4 to 9
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Ms Amelia Makinson
Address
Woburn Road, Hockliffe, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9LL
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
URN
150145

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.