Top of the Class! Bedford Borough's Lower and Primary Schools Confirmed as Number One in the East

Ofsted's recently-published Annual Report has confirmed that Bedford Borough continues to be the best place in the Eastern Region - and the 6th best in the country - for a child to attend a primary or lower school.

The report revealed 95% of primary pupils attended good or outstanding schools, meaning lower and primary school children are more likely to attend a good or outstanding school in Bedford Borough than anywhere else across the whole eastern region. The proportion of pupils attending good or outstanding upper and middle schools is 77%.

Commenting last week, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "For our lower and primary schools to once again be ranked amongst the very best in the country and number one across the Eastern Region is a testament to the hard work of teachers, pupils and whole school communities. My thanks and congratulations go to local schools for this well-deserved recognition prior to the hard-earned Christmas break!"

Cllr Henry Vann, Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder for Education at Bedford Borough Council, added: "We congratulate local lower and primary schools for the fact that Ofsted's Annual Report reveals Bedford Borough to be one of the very best places in the country to attend a primary or lower school.

The work with all schools to drive up standards across all phases is ongoing, with a shared determination to ensure that schools that are not currently good or outstanding are able to move into those categories via real improvements made on behalf of local children and young people."

To read Ofsted's report in full visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsted-annual-report-201314-schools-report