Skip to content
A free, independent guide for parents - updated each admissions cycle. 26,506 schools · England & Wales
catchment.school

Kempston Rural Primary School Catchment Area

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

Kempston Rural Primary School is a community primary school in Kempston, Bedford , serving pupils aged 5-11, with 440 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.

5-11

Age range

440

Pupils

420

Capacity

105%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2023

Kempston Rural Primary School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Kempston Rural Primary School?

The catchment area for Kempston Rural Primary 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 Kempston Rural Primary 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.

Currently oversubscribed: 440 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 Kempston Rural Primary School 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 →

Kempston Rural Primary School: at or above its 420 place limit

Kempston Rural Primary School has a published admission number of 420 places. 440 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 105%. 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. 12% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Kempston.

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 →

Kempston Rural Primary School: School Information

Full address
Martell Drive, Kempston, MK42 7FJ
Local authority
Bedford
School type
Community school
Phase of education
Primary
Age range
5-11 years
Free school meals
12% of pupils
DfE URN
109463

Nearest primary schools by distance

These are the primary schools closest to Kempston Rural Primary 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.

Frequently Asked Questions: Kempston Rural Primary School

What is the catchment area for Kempston Rural Primary School?

The catchment area for Kempston Rural Primary 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 Kempston Rural Primary School oversubscribed?

Yes, Kempston Rural Primary School currently has 440 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.

What is the admissions policy for Kempston Rural Primary School?

Admission to Kempston Rural Primary 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 Kempston Rural Primary School cover?

Kempston Rural Primary School is a primary school in Kempston, Bedford, serving pupils aged 5-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Kempston Rural Primary School?

Kempston Rural Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

Get admissions updates by email

Join parents who get catchment boundary changes and key admissions dates - free, once per term.

No spam. Unsubscribe any time.