Schools in Bedford

Bedford has 103 schools across the borough, with 66 primary and 14 secondary schools. Bedford Borough Council coordinates admissions for community schools, while the borough's significant proportion of voluntary-aided and academy schools manage their own criteria. Bedford town has a diverse population - including a large Italian-heritage community in Kempston - and school popularity varies considerably across the borough's neighbourhoods.

Bedford is unusual in retaining upper schools in a three-tier system across parts of the borough, with pupils moving from first school to middle school at Year 5, then to upper school at Year 9. Families new to the area should check carefully whether their postcode falls within the two-tier or three-tier catchment structure. The borough's selective upper school, Bedford Academy, admits via entrance test and draws from across the borough.