The Firs Lower School, based in Bedford, provides primary education, serving pupils aged 2 to 9. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a not applicable admissions policy. It does not have a designated religious character, which may suit families looking for a non-faith school.
The Firs Lower School currently has around 349 pupils on roll, which is about 100% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.1% boys and 47.9% girls. Around 3.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 4.5%. Persistent absence is recorded at 8.4%.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (84%).
At its latest Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good. This suggests the school is performing well overall. Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
| Address: | Station Road, Bedford, MK45 2QR |
| Website: | http://www.firslower.co.uk |
| Telephone: | 01525402735 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Primary |
| Local authority: | Central Bedfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Adam Campbell |
| Religious character: | Does not apply |
| Admissions policy: | Not applicable |
| Unique reference: | 137756 |
Ofsted inspection date: 07/11/2013
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 2 - 9 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 348 |
| Number of Pupils: | 349 |
| Number of Boys: | 182 |
| Number of Girls: | 167 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 4.5% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 8.4% | 8.2% |
| White British | 84.00% | 293 |
| Other White | 4.60% | 16 |
| Other Mixed | 3.70% | 13 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.70% | 6 |
| Indian | 1.70% | 6 |
| African | 0.90% | 3 |
| White and Asian | 0.90% | 3 |
| Caribbean | 0.60% | 2 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.60% | 2 |
| Unclassified | 0.60% | 2 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 1 |
| Other Asian | 0.30% | 1 |
| Other Black | 0.30% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| White and Black African | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish | 0.00% | 0 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.00% | 0 |
| Chinese | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Firs Lower School Station Road , Ampthill MK45 2QR | - not rated | 0 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Firs Lower School Station Road , Ampthill MK45 2QR | 3out of 4 | 0 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Russell Lower School Queens Road , MK45 2TD | 3out of 4 | 530 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Templefield Lower School Malham Close , Flitwick MK45 1AJ | 3out of 4 | 2,704 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsmoor Lower School Kingsmoor Close , Flitwick MK45 1EY | - not rated | 2,900 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redborne Upper School and Community College Flitwick Road , Ampthill MK45 2NU | 3out of 4 | 929 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Redborne Upper School and Community College Flitwick Road , Ampthill MK45 2NU | - not rated | 929 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda Middle School Station Road , Ampthill MK45 2QR | 3out of 4 | 240 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Alameda Middle School Station Road , Ampthill MK45 2QR | - not rated | 240 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Woodland Middle School Academy Malham Close , Flitwick MK45 1NP | 3out of 4 | 2,762 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Woodland Middle School Malham Close , Flitwick MK45 1NP | - not rated | 2,762 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bury Lawn School Steppingley Road , Flitwick MK45 1AH | - not rated | 2,221 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Waverly Pre-Preparatory School 20 Steppingley Road , Flitwick MK45 1AJ | - not rated | 2,658 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.