Lidlington Primary School
Hurst Grove, Lidlington, Bedford, MK43 0SBOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Lidlington Primary School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 134 schools in Central Bedfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 23 November 2022, report published 16 January 2023
- 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 23 November 2022
Pupils at Thomas Johnson Lower are happy and get along well with one another. Everyone, including those who are new to the school, feels included and welcomed. The school is recognised for being at the heart of its community. From the moment children join the early years, the school's values of 'dream, discover and flourish' are interwoven in their day-to-day lives in all they do. Pupils respond positively to the high expectations staff promote and typically behave well. Bullying hardly ever happens. If pupils have any worries, they can tell a trusted adult and know that they will be well supported. As a result, pupils feel safe at school. The curriculum supports pupils to achieve well. This includes those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In most subjects, the curriculum is organised thoughtfully to ensure pupils build securely on what they have learned before. Pupils' achievements are recognised and rewarded in several ways. House points, attendance awards and recognition for when pupils demonstrate school values, all help to create a harmonious school community. Relationships between pupils and adults are positive. Parents appreciate this. As one parent said, 'It is clear the staff at Thomas Johnson know their pupils.'
What the school should improve
- Leaders have prioritised some subject areas over others to ensure that pupils build upon their basic skills. In a small number of curriculum areas, plans are less well structured. Leaders need to continue to ensure that the content in every subject plan is set out clearly.
- Leadership roles and responsibilities of leaders have not been defined well enough. This means that some staff are not sure about how they can be fully effective in their roles. Senior leaders, including governors, need to continue to develop and define clear roles and responsibilities to ensure all leaders know how they can successfully contribute towards the school's success.
Pupil numbers and mix
92 pupils on roll, with places for 110
Schools near Lidlington Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marston Moreteyne VC School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Ridgmont Lower School | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Not published |
| Husborne Crawley Lower School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Cranfield Church of England Academy | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Holywell School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 27% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Bolger
- Phone
- 01525402377
- Address
- Hurst Grove, Lidlington, Bedford, MK43 0SB
- Local authority
- Central Bedfordshire
- URN
- 109468
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.