St John Rigby Catholic Primary School
Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St John Rigby Catholic Primary School is a primary school in Bedford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 84 schools in Bedford. It ranks 32nd of 52 primary schools in Bedford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 September 2023, report published 8 November 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 26 September 2023
St John Rigby is a happy school. Pupils enjoy warm, trusting relationships with their peers and with staff. Parents recognise how these relationships help their children to thrive. The school is a nurturing place to learn, which parents value. Pupils understand and follow the school's rules 'Be Ready, Be Respectful, Be safe'. They learn how to be good friends and show kindness to others. Pupils would tell a trusted adult if they had worries. Pupils enjoy learning. Pupils have a love of reading. This is because 'when I read it takes me to another world'. Pupils are proud of their peer's successes and celebrate their achievements. Pupils achieve well in a range of subjects. Pupils usually behave well in lessons. Sometimes where there is low-level disruption it is not addressed quickly. Pupils can be talkative, but they are not unkind to others. Pupils behave well around school, including at playtimes and at lunchtimes. They show respect to visitors to the school and are happy to engage with them. Pupils enjoy the variety of clubs they can attend at school that let them try new things or develop their interests. These include sports, music, mindfulness and art clubs.
What the school should improve
- In a small minority of foundation subjects, subject leaders are not clear on how the different components of learning fit together to sequence the curriculum. Therefore, teachers are not clear about what they should teach and when, or how it links to prior learning. The school must clarify exactly what it wants pupils to learn at each stage in every foundation subject.
- Occasionally, some pupils disrupt learning in lessons. This low-level disruption takes place because teachers sometimes do not reinforce the school's high expectations of pupil behaviour or its effective learning routines. The school needs to ensure that all staff understand the high expectations of pupils' behaviour and how to achieve them so that all pupils maintain focus in lessons.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
51 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
268 pupils on roll, with places for 420
Schools near St John Rigby Catholic Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazeldene School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| The Hills Academy | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School | 0.6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Goldington Green Academy | 0.8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 62% met the expected standard |
| Brickhill Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- OUR LADY IMMACULATE CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST LTD
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Michele McGettigan
- Phone
- 01234401900
- Address
- Polhill Avenue, Bedford, MK41 9DQ
- Local authority
- Bedford
- URN
- 139515
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.