St John's School is a special academy in Bedford for children and young people aged 2 to 19. It supports severe learning.
- Ages 2–19
- 178 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Special academy
- Ages
- 2 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 178 (places for 181)
- Headteacher
- Miss Shannon Poulter (Head of School)
- Part of
- Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
- Opened
- 1 September 2011
- Free school meals
- 50.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bedford
- School reference (URN)
- 137469
Needs it supports
1 need: severe learning
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Bedford (2)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Bedford council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, September 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsInsufficient evidence
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Austin Canons, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 8AA
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- Grange Academy Special school · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Rivertree Free School Special school · Ages 2–19 0.8 miles
- Greys Education Centre Alternative provision · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
By need in Bedford: Autism (7) · SEMH (3) · Severe learning (3) · Moderate learning (2)
Questions about St John's School
How do I get a place at St John's School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult St John's School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does St John's School support?
Severe learning difficulty. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does St John's School take?
Aged 2 to 19, boys and girls.
What is St John's School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in September 2023 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is St John's School?
Austin Canons, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 8AA, in Bedford.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.