Central Bedfordshire
John Donne Church of England Primary School
Close to home and non-selective, but attainment sits below the national average and the last inspection asked for improvement.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
29% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths — significantly below the national average of around 61%. Progress and context measures may still show positive value-added.
- 29%
- Expected standard (R+W+M)
- 6%
- Higher standard (R+W+M)
- 2024/2025
- Academic year
KS2 progress scores (reading, writing, maths progress) are not yet surfaced in this summary. Check the performance table section below.
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
This school has a Church of England religious character. Admissions may prioritise pupils who meet faith criteria. A Supplementary Information Form (SIF) may be required.
Watch-outs
- Faith admissions criteria apply (Church of England). A Supplementary Information Form may be required. Evidence of faith practice may be needed.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Download and review the Supplementary Information Form
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Admissions and catchment
Reception entry · Central Bedfordshire council allocation figures, 2026–2026
Add a postcode to see where you would sit against past cut-offs.
Central Bedfordshire did not publish a usable last offer distance for this school in 2026.
Why we say “Cut-off not published”
- 14 applications for 30 places in 2026 (0.5 per place).
What could change this
- We measure a straight line from your postcode centre. The council measures from your home address, sometimes along walking routes, so treat anything near the line with care.
- Cut-offs move every year with the number of applicants and siblings.
- Children with an EHC plan, looked-after children and siblings are usually offered places before distance is used.
- Past allocations never guarantee a place.
No usable distance was published, so there is nothing to draw.
Last offer distance
Furthest child offered a place.
Applications and places
Published admission number (PAN) against applications
14 applications for 30 places in 2026
14 offers made at national offer day, 2026
Councils count applications differently (all preferences or first preferences only).
Pupils on roll
School census count against building capacity
57% full. Source: Get Information about Schools, 26 September 2026. A full school can still have places in the entry year.
Sources — check them yourself
- 2026 (national offer day): Central Bedfordshire council allocation figures (PDF, page 3)
- Official admissions page: Central Bedfordshire. Use its address checker or booklet to confirm your own position.
Figures collected from council publications on 27 September 2026 and shown as printed, converted to km. Years the council did not publish are left blank. Past allocations never guarantee a place.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Reception entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 15 | 14 | 14 (100%) | 23 |
| September 2025 | 11 | 11 | 11 (100%) | 17 |
| September 2024 | 20 | 19 | 19 (100%) | 26 |
| September 2023 | 19 | 19 | 19 (100%) | 25 |
| September 2022 | 16 | 16 | 16 (100%) | 22 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Central Bedfordshire’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
KS2 results history
| Year | Pupils | Expected % | Higher % | Reading | Writing | Maths | Read score | Maths score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | — | 29.0% | 6.0% | 59.0% | 71.0% | 35.0% | 102.0 | 100.0 |
| 2023/2024 | — | 42.0% | 0.0% | 83.0% | 67.0% | 42.0% | 103.0 | 97.0 |
| 2022/2023 | — | 50.0% | 8.0% | 83.0% | 58.0% | 67.0% | 106.0 | 101.0 |
Nearby and similar schools
Other primary schools in Central Bedfordshire for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 109615 |
| Local authority | Central Bedfordshire |
| Region | East of England |
| Phase | Primary |
| Type | Voluntary aided school |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 3-11 |
| Headteacher | Headteacher Anita Whitehurst |
| Trust | — |
| Admissions | Not applicable |
| Religious character | Church of England |
| Postcode | MK44 3NL |
| Latest pupils | 121 |
| FSM eligible | 17.0% |
Contact and identifiers
High Street, Blunham, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK44 3NL
www.johndonne.co.ukView local authority page1767640346| DfE number | 3302 |
| UKPRN | 10075930 |
| Opened | — |
| GIAS updated | 10 Mar 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 10 Mar 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | — |
| Latest KS2 year | 2024/2025 |
| Ofsted published | 25 Jan 2024 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | S5 Inspection |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 28 Nov 2023 |
| Publication date | 25 Jan 2024 |