Livingstone Primary School
Clapham Road, Bedford, MK41 7LGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Livingstone Primary School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 84 schools in Bedford. It ranks 33rd of 52 primary schools in Bedford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 March 2023, report published 18 May 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 8 March 2023
Livingstone Primary is a 'rainbow school'. Pupils choose one of four colours for their school sweatshirt. This signifies the diversity of the school community and the fact that, as pupils say, 'It's great to be different.' There is a strong culture of respect. New arrivals are welcomed quickly into this inclusive school. Pupils' well-being is a priority from the moment they start. There are opportunities for calm reflection around the school and pupils know they can go to a member of the nurture team if they need a boost. Pupils listen well in class and learning is rarely disrupted by poor behaviour. Pupils who struggle to meet adults' expectations for behaviour get the help they need to improve. Pupils are happy, whether learning or playing. They feel safe and trust the adults to look after them. Bullying rarely happens. All pupils do their best to demonstrate the school's motto, 'Work hard, be kind'. They follow the example set by staff, who model the positive behaviours and attitudes expected from pupils. Most pupils achieve well, sometimes from low starting points. Their achievements are celebrated and they are motivated to do well by a clear system of rewards and recognition.
What the school should improve
- In phonics lessons, pupils do not always get sufficient opportunities to orally rehearse the new sounds they are learning, with clear modelling from adults. This means that they do not develop a secure knowledge of the sounds they need to learn as quickly as they could. Leaders should ensure teachers share good practice and develop a precise and consistently effective approach to the teaching of phonics, so that all pupils gain reading accuracy and fluency quickly.
- The quality of feedback and support staff give to pupils is inconsistent. Where this happens, mistakes are not corrected meaning pupils do not always learn as much as they could. Leaders should ensure their own feedback to teachers following monitoring activities is acted on, so that all pupils achieve their potential across all subjects.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
49 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
457 pupils on roll, with places for 444
Schools near Livingstone Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polam School | 0.2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Edith Cavell Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
| Priory Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 50% met the expected standard |
| Great Ouse Primary Academy | 0.6 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 67% met the expected standard |
| St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 44% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Foundation school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Trust
- The Leap Community Trust
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Peter Thornes
- Phone
- 01234352879
- Address
- Clapham Road, Bedford, MK41 7LG
- Local authority
- Bedford
- URN
- 109432
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.