School organisation changes

We have an ambitious goal to ensure that high quality education is consistently delivered across all Bedford Borough schools. 

Moving towards a two-tier educational system is part of achieving this. Wootton/Stewartby remains the only school planning area within the borough which still operates under a 3-tier system. Adopting the 2-tier model will align Wootton and Stewartby schools with others in the borough and across the country. 

It will allow schools to attract high quality staff, as needed, to fully access CPD opportunities and to reduce the number of transitions for students, which has been proven to improve outcomes for pupils.

Bedford Borough Council are coordinating this transition in conjunction with changes underway in neighbouring areas of Central Bedfordshire and working with the school leaders to plan their journeys effectively.

Timeline 

September 2025

• Wootton Lower School will become Wootton Primary School and accept its first intake of Y5 pupils.

September 2026 

• Wootton Upper School will become a secondary school, Wootton Academy, with phased changes to the Y7 to Y11 pupil intakes.
• Pupils at Marston Vale Middle School in Y6 to Y8 in 2025/26 will transfer to Wootton Academy to continue into Y7 to Y9, respectively.
• Wootton Primary School will complete its transition, with intakes of pupils in YR to Y6. 

End of 2026/27

• Marston Vale Middle School will undergo planned closure.
• Broadmead Lower School will undergo planned closure.

See published decision and accompanying papers for more information.

September 2027

• Stewartby Primary School (YR to Y6) opens (on the former Marston Vale Middle School site).

See our mainstream school transport page for information on how these changes may affect eligibility for school transport.

Broadmead Lower School will undergo planned closure at the end of the 2026/27 academic year. This is part of a phased reorganisation of schools in Wootton and Stewartby to align with the two-tier system adopted in most of the country. 

Please see the published decision and accompanying papers for more information.

Kymbrook Primary School and Kymbrook Pre-school will merge with effect from 1 January 2026. This will aid a smoother transition and improve outcomes at the end of Reception, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and pupils who do not speak English as a first language.

Please see decision notice below for more information

Decision on the consultation to merge Kymbrook Primary School and Kymbrook Pre-school

The Early Years Reference Group (EYRG) met on 18 June to review the consultation findings and reports for the proposed merger of Kymbrook Primary School and Kymbrook Pre-school which would come into effect on 1 January 2026. 

Members at the meeting included representation from the following early years groups: a college, an academy primary school with early years, a maintained nursery school, a private nursery, a private pre-school and a charity pre-school.  

The merger was agreed by the EYRG with the understanding that the school will:

• Ensure all early years staff have access to the Bedford Borough Early Years Training Directory and are able to attend events and training to ensure a high quality setting and effective CPD.
• Ensure all staff have full and recognised EYFS qualifications, if qualified (within ratio of the EYFS requirements).
• Engage in the Professional Study Groups led by the Council school improvement team (Judith Lovely is the head of school improvement and can be contacted for any queries at Judith.Lovely@bedford.gov.uk).
• Continue to work in partnership with local early years settings, including the private, voluntary and independent sector (PVI’s), ensuring families within the community are supported and all early years settings work together to ensure viability.
• Engage and participate in the Early Years Hubs programme.
• Ensure governors can support with the high quality of the early years provision with access to early years governor training and the Foundation Stage Forum.

The proposal was approved as members of the EYRG felt that the merger would enable a smoother transition, improving the outcomes of children in the early years phase, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and pupils who do not speak English as a first language. 

Closer liaison between the staff of the two organisations will allow a focus on outcomes for the children, supported by a consistent and professional management structure. 

Kymbrook Primary School is rated ‘good’ across all categories by OFSTED (last inspection 16 July 2024) and the Council feels that the school are in a strong position to open an early year’s nursery provision.

Westfield Primary School will open a pre-school for children aged 3 years and above with effect from 4th November 2025. This will meet a demand for additional childcare in the area following the expansion of the early years entitlements by central government and aid transitioning to primary school.

Please see the decision notice below for more information.

Decision on the consultation to add a pre-school at Westfield Primary School 

The Early Years Reference Group (EYRG) met on 19 September to review the consultation findings and reports for the proposed addition of a pre-school at Westfield Primary School which would open on 4 November 2025, at the earliest. 

Members at the meeting included representation from the following early years groups: Early Childhood Partnership, a college, an academy primary school with early years, a maintained nursery school and a charity pre-school.  

The merger was agreed by the EYRG with the understanding that the school will:

• Ensure all early years staff have access to the Bedford Borough Early Years Training Directory and are able to attend events and training to ensure a high quality setting and effective CPD.
• Ensure all staff have full and recognised EYFS qualifications, if qualified (within ratio of the EYFS requirements).
• Continue to work in partnership with local early years settings, including the private, voluntary and independent sector (PVI’s), ensuring families within the community are supported and all early years settings work together to ensure viability.
• Engage and participate in the Early Years Hubs programme.
• Ensure the headteacher and governors can support with the high quality of the early years provision through access to early years governor training and the Foundation Stage Forum.

The proposal was approved as members of the EYRG felt that the merger would enable a smoother transition, improving the outcomes of children in the early years phase, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and pupils who do not speak English as a first language. 

Westfield Primary School is rated ‘good’ across all categories by OFSTED (last inspection 25 May 2022) and the Council feels that the school are in a strong position to open an early year’s nursery provision.