Bedford school admissions

For a September 2027 start, secondary applications close on 31 Oct 2026 and primary applications on 15 Jan 2027. Always confirm details on the council's own admissions page.

How to apply

Apply online through the council where you live, naming several schools in order of preference — including schools in other council areas. Every preference is considered equally against each school's admission criteria, and you're offered the highest-ranked school that can offer you a place.

We haven't yet confirmed the council's admissions page link.

GOV.UK: School admissions

Key dates for September 2027

Secondary applications close	31 Oct 2026	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Primary (reception) applications close	15 Jan 2027	School Admissions Code 2021, para 2.24
Secondary national offer day	1 Mar 2027	1 March or next working day
Primary national offer day	16 Apr 2027	16 April or next working day

Appeals

The council hasn't published a single appeal date we've confirmed. By law you must have at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter.

Source: School Admissions Code and School Admission Appeals Code (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Applications and offers by school, 2026/27

Catchment areas and admission decisions are made by the school's admissions authority (the local council or, for academies and many faith schools, the school or trust). Distances and past figures don't guarantee a place.

Secondary schools (13)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Bedford Academy	293	722	285	270	2.5 per offer
Bedford Free School	109	434	168	108	4.0 per offer
Biddenham International School and Sports College	252	624	267	245	2.5 per offer
Castle Newnham School	147	396	106	103	2.7 per offer
Daubeney Academy	111	210	95	94	1.9 per offer
Goldington Academy	182	556	272	182	3.1 per offer
Kempston Academy	118	212	105	105	1.8 per offer
Lincroft Academy	164	280	154	154	1.7 per offer
Mark Rutherford School	186	435	154	154	2.3 per offer
Sharnbrook Academy	246	406	235	233	1.7 per offer
St Thomas More Catholic School	108	194	92	92	1.8 per offer
Wixams Academy	167	246	154	154	1.5 per offer
Wootton Academy	201	251	192	192	1.2 per offer

Primary schools (54)

School	Places offered	All applications	First preferences	First preferences offered	Applications per offer
Balliol Primary School	24	67	23	23	2.8 per offer
Bedford Road Primary Academy	41	92	41	40	2.2 per offer
Brickhill Primary School	29	92	27	27	3.2 per offer
Broadmead Lower School	49	85	47	47	1.7 per offer
Bromham CofE Primary School	58	123	49	49	2.1 per offer
Camestone School	53	103	46	46	1.9 per offer
Carlton CofE Primary School	6	14	6	6	2.3 per offer
Castle Newnham School	88	160	69	68	1.8 per offer
Cauldwell School	59	135	68	59	2.3 per offer
Christopher Reeves CofE VA Primary School	8	21	8	8	2.6 per offer
Cotton End Forest School	51	109	48	47	2.1 per offer
Edith Cavell Primary School	33	76	30	30	2.3 per offer
Eileen Wade Primary School	6	12	5	5	2.0 per offer
Elstow School	42	89	39	39	2.1 per offer
Goldington Green Academy	54	94	52	52	1.7 per offer
Great Barford Church of England Primary Academy	12	24	11	11	2.0 per offer
Great Denham Primary School	89	236	115	89	2.7 per offer
Great Ouse Primary Academy	60	125	63	55	2.1 per offer
Harrold Primary Academy	9	14	9	9	1.6 per offer
Hazeldene School	60	180	75	59	3.0 per offer
Kempston Rural Primary School	59	167	63	57	2.8 per offer
King's Oak Primary School	75	136	74	74	1.8 per offer
Kymbrook Primary School	7	16	8	7	2.3 per offer
Lakeview School	53	124	50	50	2.3 per offer
Livingstone Primary School	59	151	69	56	2.6 per offer
Milton Ernest CofE Primary School	5	17	5	5	3.4 per offer
Oakley Primary Academy	19	47	19	19	2.5 per offer
Pinchmill Primary School	6	13	6	6	2.2 per offer
Priory Primary School	28	98	44	24	3.5 per offer
Putnoe Primary School	52	121	51	51	2.3 per offer
Queen's Park Academy	46	68	39	38	1.5 per offer
Ravensden CofE Primary Academy	7	21	7	7	3.0 per offer
Renhold VC Primary School	19	35	17	17	1.8 per offer
Riseley CofE Primary School	10	16	10	10	1.6 per offer
Roxton Church of England Academy	9	17	8	8	1.9 per offer
Scott Primary School & Nursery	55	106	49	49	1.9 per offer
Shackleton Primary School	58	148	52	52	2.6 per offer
Sharnbrook Primary	16	25	16	16	1.6 per offer
Sheerhatch Primary School	15	27	15	15	1.8 per offer
Shortstown Primary School	56	103	56	56	1.8 per offer
Springfield Primary School	38	80	37	37	2.1 per offer
St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary and Pre-School	21	40	20	20	1.9 per offer
St James' CofE Academy	30	124	28	27	4.1 per offer
St John Rigby Catholic Primary School	18	43	16	16	2.4 per offer
St Lawrence Church of England Primary School	11	22	11	11	2.0 per offer
The Hills Academy	59	183	72	59	3.1 per offer
Thurleigh Primary School	4	9	4	4	2.3 per offer
Turvey Primary School	9	21	9	9	2.3 per offer
Ursula Taylor Church of England School	42	58	41	41	1.4 per offer
Westfield Primary School	46	115	42	42	2.5 per offer
Wilden CofE VA Primary School	12	23	11	11	1.9 per offer
Willow Grove Primary School	60	153	68	60	2.6 per offer
Wixams Tree Primary Academy	55	147	52	52	2.7 per offer
Wootton Primary School	99	150	95	94	1.5 per offer

Source: DfE secondary and primary school applications and offers (Open Government Licence v3.0).

Bedford term dates · Check schools near a postcode

Questions

When is the Bedford secondary school application deadline?

31 October for a September start, set nationally by the School Admissions Code. Late applications are usually considered only after on-time ones.

How long do I have to appeal?

Admission authorities must give you at least 20 school days from the date of your refusal letter (usually offer day). Many councils publish a specific date — use the council's date where shown.

Does this page tell me my chance of getting a place?

No. Places depend on each school's oversubscription criteria, which change every year. Only the admissions authority decides.