Shortstown Primary School Catchment Area
Shortstown Primary School is an academy converter primary school in Bedford , serving pupils aged 2-11, with 488 pupils, and a capacity of 420 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
2-11
Age range
488
Pupils
420
Capacity
116%
Fill rate
Good
Ofsted 2021
Shortstown Primary School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Shortstown Primary School?
The catchment area for Shortstown 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.
As an academy, Shortstown Primary School sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Bedford. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
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 Shortstown 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 →Shortstown Primary School: heavily oversubscribed at 116% capacity
Shortstown Primary School has a published admission number of 420 places. 488 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 116%. At 116% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Bedford allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 24.8% of pupils at Shortstown Primary School are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across 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 →
Shortstown Primary School: School Information
- Full address
- Beauvais Square, Shortstown, Bedford, MK42 0GS
- Local authority
- Bedford
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 2-11 years
- Free school meals
- 24.8% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 144546
Other Primary Schools in Bedford
If Shortstown Primary 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
Cotton End Forest School Catchment Area
Community school · MK45 3AG
Pinchmill Primary School Catchment Area
Foundation school · MK43 7JD
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to Shortstown 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Shortstown Primary School
What is the catchment area for Shortstown Primary School? ▾
The catchment area for Shortstown 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 Shortstown Primary School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Shortstown Primary School currently has 488 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 420 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Shortstown Primary School? ▾
Admission to Shortstown 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 Shortstown Primary School cover? ▾
Shortstown Primary 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 Shortstown Primary School? ▾
Shortstown Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2021. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.