The Mary Bassett Lower School

A good community school school in Central Bedfordshire. Explore Ofsted ratings, admissions information, and performance data for The Mary Bassett Lower School.

Leighton Buzzard, LU71AR Ofsted: Good Age 2-9 Mixed intake
Back to School Search

Performance Score

Overall school rating

Score not available

Needs all indicators

Performance score unavailable: missing published data for KS2 pupils meeting expected standard, KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard

Indicators used for Primary schools

KS2 pupils meeting expected standard
Not published
Raw: No data published
KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard
Not published
Raw: No data published
Ofsted inspection outcome
75.0
/ 100 normalized
Weight: Not used
Raw: Good

How we weight each phase

Tap to toggle

Primary schools

  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 40.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Secondary schools

  • Progress 8 score 40.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

All-through schools

  • Progress 8 score 25.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils meeting expected standard 20.0%
  • KS2 pupils exceeding expected standard 15.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Secondary with Sixth Form schools

  • Progress 8 score 20.0%
  • English & Maths grade 4+ % 20.0%
  • Continue in education or training 20.0%
  • Sustained employment 20.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 20.0%

Sixth Form Only schools

  • Continue in education or training 40.0%
  • Sustained employment 30.0%
  • Ofsted inspection outcome 30.0%

Special schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Alternative Provision schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Independent schools

  • Ofsted inspection outcome 100.0%

Ofsted Inspection

Official inspection outcomes

Good
Overall effectiveness
Good
Last inspected
22 May 2024
Previous grade
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour & attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership & management
Good
Safeguarding
Effective

Source: Ofsted inspection outcomes. Grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate.

Contact Information

How to reach this school

Source: GIAS
Address
Bassett Road
Leighton Buzzard, LU71AR

Location

Find the school on the map

Source: Geocoding

School Information

Basic details and characteristics

Source: GIAS
URN
109508
Type
Community school
Phase
Primary
Address
Bassett Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1AR
Age range
2-9
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Does not apply
School status
Open
Capacity
420 pupils
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Sixth Form
No
Nursery
Yes

School Performance Data

Official government statistics

Source: DfE

School Demographics

Total Pupils
353
Free School Meals
17.6% (62 pupils)
Special Educational Needs
2.5% (9 pupils)

Daily Attendance

Attendance Rate
93.9%
Good
Persistent Absence
16.5%
Missing 10%+ of school days

Calculated Fields

Derived insights and analysis

Source: Calculated

Class Size Information

Average Class Size
22 pupils
Excellent
Pupils per Year Group
44
Average across all year groups
Total School Size
353 pupils
2-9

From the School Website

Information extracted from the school's own website

Source: School Website

Ethos & Values

Compassion Kindness Curiosity Open-mindedness Democracy Rule of Law Individual Liberty Mutual Respect Tolerance

Head Teacher's Message

Headteacher Hilary Wheeldon describes The Mary Bassett Lower School as a welcoming, inclusive school with a central location in Leighton Buzzard. She emphasizes a calm, caring environment, a creative curriculum, high expectations, and an open-door policy for parents and carers, inviting tours by appointment.

Curriculum Highlights

The Mary Bassett Way as the curriculum philosophy The Curiosity Approach underpinning the EYFS Monster Phonics for early phonics Curriculum aligned to The National Curriculum (2014) with subject intents and progression maps Topic-based learning with half-term blocks and links across subjects Visits, trips, and wider opportunities to apply learning in real-life contexts

Wraparound Care

After-School Care: Yes

From September 2024 The Mary Bassett Nursery will be open from 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Breakfast is provided 8:00–8:30am. Lunches can be ordered online, and a fruit/vegetable snack is provided during 4:00–6:00pm.

SEND Provision

The Mary Bassett Lower School follows the reforms of the Code of Practice (2014) and Central Bedfordshire’s Graduated Response guidance. It uses an 'Initial Cause for Concern' monitoring process for pupils needing extra support. The SENDCo is Stephanie Finniss, available by appointment; concerns should be raised with the class teacher as the first port of call, via the School Office.

Admissions Criteria

Central Bedfordshire Council manages admissions. In-year transfers are handled by CBC. To arrange a tour, contact the School Office at [email protected] or 01525 373017. Admissions Helpline: 0300 300 8037. Further details and specific policy documents include: 'Admissions Policy - Starting School in September 2024', 'admissions-criteria-the-mary-bassett-lower-school-2023-24', and 'Determined Community and VC Schools Admissions Arrangements - 2026-27'.

Financial Information

Nursery fees: £4.90 per hour for children aged 3 years and over; £5.96 per hour for children aged 2 years. Hot school lunches are £2.53 per meal.

Other Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Compare with nearby schools