There is a growing number of schools which do not have a catchment area.

Some of these are faith schools that have never had a catchment area.

Others are schools that used to have a catchment area but over recent years have removed the catchment area from their admission policy.

• Bedford Free School
• Castle Newnham Primary School
• Castle Newnham Secondary School
• Daubeney Academy
• Elstow School 
• Goldington Academy
• Goldington Green Academy
• Great Ouse Primary Academy
• Hazeldene School
• Kempston Academy
• Queens Park Academy (from September 2024)
• St John Rigby Catholic Primary School, Bedford
• St Joseph's and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Bedford
• St Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, Bedford     
• Wixams Academy
• Wixams Tree Primary School