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catchment.school

Great Ouse Primary Academy Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Great Ouse Primary Academy is a free s primary school in Bedford , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 444 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

3-11

Age range

444

Pupils

420

Capacity

106%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2022

Great Ouse Primary Academy Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Great Ouse Primary Academy?

The catchment area for Great Ouse Primary Academy 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 Great Ouse Primary Academy is set by Bedford and reviewed annually. Children living within the catchment boundary receive priority consideration when applications exceed the number of available places.

Currently oversubscribed: 444 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Living within the catchment area is especially important for this school.

Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →

Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Bedford publishes the 2027 Great Ouse Primary Academy numbers →

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 →

Great Ouse Primary Academy: at or above its 420 place limit

Great Ouse Primary Academy has a published admission number of 420 places. 444 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 106%. The school is at or above its published limit of 420 places. Bedford allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 19.9% 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 →

Great Ouse Primary Academy: School Information

Full address
Seaforth Gardens, Bedford, MK40 4TJ
Local authority
Bedford
School type
Free schools
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
3-11 years
Free school meals
19.9% of pupils
DfE URN
144746

Other Primary Schools in Bedford

If Great Ouse Primary Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Bedford are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Great Ouse Primary Academy 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Great Ouse Primary Academy

What is the catchment area for Great Ouse Primary Academy?

The catchment area for Great Ouse Primary Academy 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 Great Ouse Primary Academy oversubscribed?

Yes, Great Ouse Primary Academy currently has 444 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Great Ouse Primary Academy?

Admission to Great Ouse Primary Academy 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 Great Ouse Primary Academy cover?

Great Ouse Primary Academy is a primary school in Bedford, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Great Ouse Primary Academy?

Great Ouse Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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