Shackleton Primary School
Pearcey Road, Bedford, MK42 9LZ
487 pupils · 101% of 480 capacity
- Phase
- Primary
- Type
- Academy converter
- Ages
- 4–11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Does not apply
- Trust
- HEART ACADEMIES TRUST
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Free school meals
- 34.1%
Ofsted
Expected standard (2026) — Report card — the most common grade across the inspected areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
| Early years | Expected standard |
| Safeguarding | Met |
Inspected 27 January 2026, published 12 March 2026. Read the full Ofsted report
England has three coexisting inspection systems — how we translate them into one signal.
Exam results
| Measure | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Reaching the expected standard in reading, writing & maths | 54% |
| Reaching the higher standard | 0% |
“Not published (small cohort)” means the DfE suppressed the figure to protect small cohorts — it is not a zero.
Will my child get in?
Usually has places available — 0.9 first-choice applications per place (Sept 2026 entry)
| Entry | Places | 1st preferences | Total preferences | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 entry | 58 | 52 | 148 | 56 |
| Sept 2025 entry | 60 | 56 | 137 | 60 |
| Sept 2024 entry | 60 | 60 | 147 | 60 |
| Sept 2023 entry | 59 | 66 | 142 | 59 |
| Sept 2022 entry | 58 | 54 | 114 | 58 |
| Sept 2021 entry | 60 | 61 | 120 | 60 |
| Sept 2020 entry | 58 | 53 | 138 | 58 |
| Sept 2019 entry | 62 | 54 | 131 | 62 |
First-choice demand varies year to year, and the school’s admission criteria — not demand — decide who is offered a place. Use this as a rough signal, never a prediction.
Nearby alternatives
- King's Oak Primary School 0.8 km · Most areas: Strong standard (2026)
- Cauldwell School 0.8 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2025)
- Elstow School 1.3 km · Standards maintained (2025)
- Camestone School 1.7 km · Good — confirmed 2022 · previous system
- Priory Primary School 1.7 km · No overall grade (2024)
- Castle Newnham School 1.8 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
Straight-line distance — not travel time, and not a catchment. Same phase, open schools only.
Data from DfE and Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources. School record updated 10 July 2026. Report incorrect data.