Starting school in September 2026

We are a small rural school in Podington village with a beautiful outdoor environment and skilful, dedicated staff. Families are very welcome to come and look around to see if this is the place for your child's learning. Please arrange a visit by calling Mrs Mustoe in the School Office on 01933 353531

Places are also available in our current Reception Class.

Admissions Procedure

The Reception application process is undertaken by the local authority in which you live. If you live within Bedford Borough, you must apply to Bedford Borough Council online at www.bedford.gov.uk/admissions

If you live outside of Bedford Borough, you can still apply for a place at our school, but you must apply to the local authority in which you live.

Children are normally admitted to school at the start of or during the Reception year, that is the school year in which they become 5. 

You must apply for a place in the Reception class that starts in September 2026 if your child was born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022.

For more information on admissions, please click here.

Applications for admission to the school must be made in accordance with Local Authority’s co-ordinated admission procedures and arrangements.

Application forms are available from the Local Authority. Parents can also apply online or a form can be downloaded from the Local Authority website.

The governors will meet to agree the allocated places and the LA will notify parents of the outcome of their application. The date for confirmation of acceptance will be included with the notification letter.

Children who are refused a place as part of the co-ordinated arrangements will receive an appeal form with the refusal letter. The appeal forms should be returned to the Clerk of the Appeals panel in Member Services at Borough Hall (tel: 01234 228905). You can find more information about the appeals process here.

Any child refused a place at the school will be placed on a waiting list which will be prioritised according to the admissions criteria.  Waiting lists for the normal year of entry will be maintained until the end of the Autumn term. Further information is available on the Bedford Borough Council website.

Requests for admission into other year groups should be made directly to the school. The form is available from the Local Authority and can be downloaded from the LA website. After completion the form should then be returned to the Local Authority.

Visits to the school are warmly welcomed throughout the year. Please contact Mrs Mustoe in the school office if you wish to make an appointment.