Shortstown Primary School

Primary
Academy
Ages 2 to 11

Report card: Expected standard

Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford, MK42 0GSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Shortstown Primary School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 84 schools in Bedford. It ranks 25th of 52 primary schools in Bedford. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in February 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 3 February 2026, report published 19 March 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion: Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
Achievement: Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard
Leadership and governance: Expected standard
Early years: Expected standard
Safeguarding: Met

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

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

60 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths60%

60%, 2 percentage points below 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 score104

104, 2 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score105

105, the same as the England average.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score106

106, 1 above the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

479 pupils on roll, with places for 420

Eligible for free school meals23.2%

23.2%, 3.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language24%

24%, 2.4 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support25.1%

25.1%, 10.3 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5.6%

5.6%, 0.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Shortstown Primary School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
King's Oak Primary School	1 mile	Report card: Expected standard to strong standard	61% met the expected standard
Cotton End Forest School	1 mile	Ofsted judgements: Good	77% met the expected standard
Elstow School	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	74% met the expected standard
Shackleton Primary School	2 miles	Report card: Needs attention to expected standard	54% met the expected standard
Lakeview School	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Not published

School details

School type: Academy converter
Sector: Academy
Trust: HEART ACADEMIES TRUST
Age range: 2 to 11
Gender: Mixed
Nursery classes: Yes
Headteacher: Mrs Denise Cottam
Phone: 01234740881
Website: shortstownprimary.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford, MK42 0GS
Local authority: Bedford
URN: 144546

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.