Schools in Bedford

Granted borough status in 1166 and represented in Parliament since 1265, Bedford has grown from its river-crossing origins on the Great Ouse into Bedfordshire's county town, recording an urban population of around 167,000 at the 2021 Census. De Parys is among the most sought-after pockets for school catchments on the northern side of the town, while Cardington and Great Denham draw families competing for primary places to the south and west; Kempston and Goldington fill out the suburban ring beyond. Bedford's Italian community is among England's most established. Post-war migration to the local brick industry put down deep roots that persist across the borough today. East Midlands Railway trains from Bedford Midland reach Leicester in under an hour, linking the town to the wider East Midlands network.