Houghton Conquest Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted: Good

High Street, Houghton Conquest, Bedford, MK45 3LLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Houghton Conquest Primary School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 134 schools in Central Bedfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 4 June 2024, report published 1 July 2024

Overall effectiveness
Good
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 4 June 2024

Community is at the very heart of this village school. Pupils, staff and parents appreciate and value this aspect of the school. Pupils benefit from the help, care and support that staff provide. Pupils feel safe. The school values of respect, honesty, teamwork, pride and resilience are woven across all areas of school life. Staff have high aspirations for all pupils to achieve their best. Pupils live up to this. They concentrate, work hard in lessons and achieve well. Pastoral support is strong. Pupils know the importance of both physical and mental health. 'Storm breaks' are used to teach pupils about the importance of being active and having a healthy mind. If any pupil needs more specific support, this is provided readily by trained members of staff. This helps pupils' readiness to learn. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), take full advantage of the range of activities that the school offers, such as running, forest school and arts and crafts. Pupils also have leadership opportunities. Older pupils can become school councillors and sports leaders, while regular debating assemblies allow all pupils to develop their ability to listen, speak and reason in a respectful manner.

What the school should improve

  • In some subjects, the core knowledge pupils need to know and remember is not clearly identified. This means pupils do not develop a depth of knowledge over time. In these subjects, subject leaders need to precisely identify the knowledge pupils need to learn and remember so they build their knowledge cumulatively and successfully over time.
  • A group of pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should. This means that they miss valuable learning and social interaction with peers. This has the potential to limit their progress and development. The school must continue to develop their analysis of attendance to inform bespoke support for those pupils who do not attend as regularly as they should.

Pupil numbers and mix

139 pupils on roll, with places for 144

Eligible for free school meals17.3%

17.3%, 9.2 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language1.4%

1.4%, 20.2 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support7.9%

7.9%, 6.9 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan2.9%

2.9%, 3.1 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Houghton Conquest Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Marston Vale Middle School2 milesOfsted judgements: Good54% met the expected standard
Broadmead Lower School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Willow Grove Primary School2 milesNo Ofsted inspectionNot published
Wilstead Primary School2 milesOfsted: GoodNot published
Wixams Tree Primary Academy2 milesOfsted: Good60% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Miss Julie Heaslip
Address
High Street, Houghton Conquest, Bedford, MK45 3LL
Local authority
Central Bedfordshire
URN
109458

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.