Bedfordshire County Council operates a three tier system of education. Children normally begin their primary education at a lower school| which serves the area where they live i.e. the school serving the local catchment area. Children are normally admitted to lower school| at the start of or during the Reception year, that is the school year in which they become 5. Many schools also have nursery units or nursery classes for younger children.

Children normally transfer at 9+ (the end of Year 4) to the middle school| serving the local catchment area| and then at 13+ (end of Year 8) to the catchment area upper school|. All upper schools| have a 6th form and pupils may remain at the school up to the age of 18 or 19 years. 

Parents have a right to express a preference for a school which is not within the catchment area|, but places can only be offered if there is space available. If the number of requests for places at a school exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated in accordance with the Admissions Criteria for that school.