Most sought-after schools in Central Bedfordshire

Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.

This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.

This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.

#	School	First preferences per place	Newest intake	Latest Ofsted
1	Dovery Academy Leighton Buzzard, primary	1.83	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
2	Linslade Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	1.60	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
3	Lark Rise Academy Dunstable, primary	1.53	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
4	Lidlington Primary School Bedford, primary	1.53	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
5	Haynes Lower School Bedford, primary	1.50	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
6	Clifton All Saints Academy Near Shefford, primary	1.40	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
7	Toddington St George Church of England School Dunstable, primary	1.36	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
8	Gravenhurst Academy Bedford, primary	1.33	2026	Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
9	Raynsford Church of England Academy Henlow, primary	1.33	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
10	Beaudesert Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	1.32	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
11	Heathwood Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	1.26	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
12	Watling Lower School Dunstable, primary	1.25	2026	Some aspects not as strong (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
13	St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Dunstable, primary	1.20	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
14	Potton Primary School Sandy, primary	1.17	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
15	Woburn Lower School Woburn, primary	1.17	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
16	Vandyke Upper School Leighton Buzzard, secondary	1.15	2025	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
17	Maple Tree Primary School Sandy, primary	1.13	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
18	St Mary's CofE Academy Stotfold Hitchin, primary	1.12	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
19	Derwent Primary School Henlow, primary	1.10	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
20	Stanbridge Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	1.08	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
21	Caldecote Church of England Academy Biggleswade, primary	1.07	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
22	Redborne Upper School and Community College Bedford, secondary	1.07	2025	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
23	Southill Lower School Biggleswade, primary	1.07	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
24	St Mary's Catholic Primary School Luton, primary	1.07	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
25	Houghton Regis Primary School Dunstable, primary	1.04	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
26	Russell Lower School Ampthill, primary	1.04	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
27	Shefford Lower School Shefford, primary	1.04	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
28	St. Augustine's Academy Dunstable, primary	1.04	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
29	Thornhill Primary School Dunstable, primary	1.04	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
30	Ashton St Peter's VA C of E School Dunstable, primary	1.03	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
31	Lawnside Academy Biggleswade, primary	1.02	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
32	Samuel Whitbread Academy Shefford, secondary	1.02	2025	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
33	Stratton School Biggleswade, secondary	1.02	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
34	Aspley Guise Village School Aspley Guise, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
35	Flitwick Lower School Bedford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
36	Greenfield CofE VC Lower School Greenfield, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
37	Harlington Lower School Dunstable, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
38	Kingsmoor Lower School Bedford, primary	1.00	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
39	Laburnum Primary School Sandy, primary	1.00	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
40	Maulden Lower School Bedford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
41	Moggerhanger Primary School Bedford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
42	Silsoe CofE VC Lower School Bedford, primary	1.00	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
43	St Swithun's Church of England VC Primary School Sandy, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
44	Sundon Lower School Luton, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
45	Templefield Lower School Bedford, primary	1.00	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
46	Totternhoe Church of England Academy Dunstable, primary	1.00	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
47	Ramsey Manor Lower School Bedford, primary	0.98	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
48	St Christophers Academy Dunstable, primary	0.98	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
49	Swallowfield Primary Milton Keynes, primary	0.98	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
50	Gothic Mede Academy Arlesey, primary	0.97	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
51	Marston Moreteyne VC School Marston Moreteyne, primary	0.97	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
52	Robert Peel Primary School Sandy, primary	0.97	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
53	Cranfield Church of England Academy Bedford, primary	0.95	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
54	Tithe Farm Primary School Dunstable, primary	0.95	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
55	Wrestlingworth CofE Infant School Sandy, primary	0.95	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
56	John Donne Church of England Primary School Bedford, primary	0.93	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
57	Pulford CofE VA Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.93	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
58	Roecroft Lower School Hitchin, primary	0.93	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
59	Sutton CofE VA Primary School Sutton, primary	0.93	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
60	Harlington Upper School Dunstable, secondary	0.91	2025	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
61	Houghton Conquest Primary School Bedford, primary	0.91	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
62	The Vale Academy Dunstable, primary	0.91	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
63	Beecroft Academy Dunstable, primary	0.90	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
64	Shillington Lower School Hitchin, primary	0.90	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
65	The Firs Lower School Bedford, primary	0.90	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
66	The Rushmere Park Academy Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.90	2026	Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
67	Langford Village Academy Biggleswade, primary	0.89	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
68	Eaton Bray Academy Dunstable, primary	0.88	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
69	St Mary's VA CofE Lower School Clophill, primary	0.88	2026	Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework))
70	Biggleswade Academy Biggleswade, primary	0.87	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
71	Dunstable Icknield Lower School Dunstable, primary	0.87	2026	Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
72	Fairfield Park Lower School Fairfield Park, primary	0.87	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
73	Hadrian Academy Dunstable, primary	0.87	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
74	Hockliffe Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.87	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
75	Studham Village CofE Academy Studham, primary	0.87	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
76	Greenleas School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.86	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
77	Lime Tree Primary Academy	0.86	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
78	Slip End Village School Luton, primary	0.86	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
79	Lancot School Dunstable, primary	0.85	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
80	The Mary Bassett Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.85	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
81	Westoning Lower School Bedford, primary	0.85	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
82	Stondon Lower School Henlow, primary	0.81	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
83	Cedars Upper School Leighton Buzzard, secondary	0.80	2025	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
84	Chalton Lower School Luton, primary	0.80	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
85	St Andrew's CofE VC Primary School Biggleswade, primary	0.79	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
86	Ardley Hill Academy Dunstable, primary	0.78	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
87	Southcott Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.77	2026	School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
88	Clipstone Brook Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.75	2026	Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection)
89	Everton Heath Primary School Nr Sandy, primary	0.75	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
90	Thomas Whitehead Church of England Academy Dunstable, primary	0.73	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
91	Campton Academy Shefford, primary	0.71	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
92	Meppershall Church of England Academy Shefford, primary	0.68	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
93	Caddington Village School Luton, primary	0.67	2026	Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))
94	Leedon Lower School Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.63	2026	Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework))
95	St Leonards CE Academy Leighton Buzzard, primary	0.56	2026	Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework))

Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 95 schools in Central Bedfordshire have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Central Bedfordshire · How we compare schools.