Cotton End Forest School Catchment Area
Cotton End Forest School is a community primary school in Bedford , serving pupils aged 2-11, with 418 pupils, and a capacity of 630 places. Find catchment area guidance, admissions policy details and nearby primary schools below.
2-11
Age range
418
Pupils
630
Capacity
66%
Fill rate
Requires improvement
Ofsted 2023
Cotton End Forest School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Cotton End Forest School?
The catchment area for Cotton End Forest School is the geographic zone Bedford uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bedford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
The catchment area for Cotton End Forest School is set by Bedford and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Bedford before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Bedford catchment area documents →Cotton End Forest School: 630 places, 66% filled: places available
Cotton End Forest School has a published admission number of 630 places. 418 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 66%. At 66% full, the school currently has headroom below its 630 place limit. Catchment distance criteria still apply when the school is oversubscribed, but at current demand levels, places have been available for applicants outside the immediate catchment area.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 17% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Bedford.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Bedford publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Bedford school admissions →
Cotton End Forest School: School Information
- Full address
- High Road, Bedford, MK45 3AG
- Local authority
- Bedford
- School type
- Community school
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 2-11 years
- Free school meals
- 17% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 109446
Other Primary Schools in Bedford
If Cotton End Forest School is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Bedford are the next closest alternatives.
Livingstone Primary School Catchment Area
Foundation school · MK41 7LG
Edith Cavell Primary School Catchment Area
Foundation school · MK41 7NH
Priory Primary School Catchment Area
Foundation school · MK40 1JD
Sheerhatch Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · MK44 3TH
Pinchmill Primary School Catchment Area
Foundation school · MK43 7JD
Flitwick Lower School Catchment Area
Community school · MK45 1LU
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Cotton End Forest School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Cotton End Forest School
What is the catchment area for Cotton End Forest School? ▾
The catchment area for Cotton End Forest School is the geographic zone Bedford uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Bedford publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Cotton End Forest School oversubscribed? ▾
Cotton End Forest School has a capacity of 630 places and currently has 418 pupils enrolled. For the most up-to-date data, check with Bedford.
What is the admissions policy for Cotton End Forest School? ▾
Admission to Cotton End Forest School is managed by Bedford. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does Cotton End Forest School cover? ▾
Cotton End Forest School is a primary school in Bedford, serving pupils aged 2-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Cotton End Forest School? ▾
Cotton End Forest School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.