Cotton End Forest School
Community schoolPrimaryAges 2–11Mixed
High Road, Cotton End, Bedford, MK45 3AG
Headteacher · Mrs Karen Headland
From Get Information About Schools (DfE), updated 9 September 2026. Report a correction
Key facts
Pupils435Capacity 630
OfstedGraded inspectionInspected 20 May 2025
Free school meals17.7%
Ofsted
Inspection on 20 May 2025. Ofsted no longer gives an overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Ofsted management information, latest inspections as at 31 August 2026.
Reception applications close 15 January 2027
For September 2027. Apply through Bedford council, not the school. National offer day is 16 April 2027.
How to apply in BedfordApplications for September 2026
47 of the 48 families who put it first were offered a place.
Places offered51
Applications109
First choice48
First-choice offers47
Applications count every family who named the school as any preference. Figures change every year, so they are a guide, not a guarantee.
Source: Department for Education, Primary and secondary school applications and offers 2026 (on-time applications, national offer day).
Nearby schools for the same ages
- Shortstown Primary School1.2 mi
- Wilstead Primary School1.6 mi
- Lakeview School1.7 mi
- Wixams Tree Primary Academy2.1 mi
- Haynes Lower School2.2 mi