Schools in Bedford

65 schools with published admissions figures

The newest figures for each school. "1st prefs per place" is how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out. It measures demand, not whether a child would get a place. A dash means the figure is not available.

How the 2026 round went in Bedford

Primary

• Offered their first choice 93.4%

  Of families applying for a primary place for September 2026. Against 89.7% in 2016.

• Offered one of their three 98.4%

  Families offered any of the schools they named.

• Families who applied 1,990

  Applications received for a primary place. A family naming three schools counts once.

For September 2026, 93.4% of families applying for a primary place here were offered their first choice, and 98.4% were offered one of the three schools they named.

That is 3.8 points higher than in 2016, when it was 89.7%.

The council's primary schools between them had 2,655 places for 1,990 applications. That is a total for the whole council and says nothing about any one school in it.

Secondary

• Offered their first choice 90.6%

  Of families applying for a secondary place for September 2026. Against 89.4% in 2016.

• Offered one of their three 99.0%

  Families offered any of the schools they named.

• Families who applied 2,095

  Applications received for a secondary place. A family naming three schools counts once.

For September 2026, 90.6% of families applying for a secondary place here were offered their first choice, and 99.0% were offered one of the three schools they named.

That is 1.2 points higher than in 2016, when it was 89.4%.

The council's secondary schools between them had 2,556 places for 2,095 applications. That is a total for the whole council and says nothing about any one school in it.

Source: Department for Education, applications and offers. The same round across England.

If a family is refused a place

Source: Department for Education, admission appeals in England, reporting year 2026. Counts every school in this council area. The share that succeeded is taken over appeals heard by a panel, not over appeals lodged.

Elsewhere

• Most sought-after schools in Bedford by first preferences per place
• Schools in MK40 (9)
• Schools in MK41 (14)
• Schools in MK42 (17)
• Schools in MK43 (16)
• Schools in MK44 (13)
• Schools in MK45 (16)
• Schools in NN10 (11)
• Schools in NN29 (6)
• Schools in PE28 (18)
• What data we hold