5

Southcott Lower School food hygiene rating

School/college/university · Central Bedfordshire

Southcott Lower School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.

The rating: 5 - Very good

The rating dates from 12 December 2024, 19 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.

Address: Bideford Green, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2UA

How it compares in Central Bedfordshire

That puts Southcott Lower School among the 1,153 places in Central Bedfordshire holding top marks, 76% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.

Every rated food business in Central Bedfordshire
5 out of 5 1,153 76% ← Southcott Lower School
4 out of 5 254 17%
3 out of 5 83 5%
2 out of 5 18 1%
1 out of 5 10 1%
0 out of 5 2 <1%

A further 189 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.

What the inspector found

An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Southcott Lower School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.

Food hygiene ratings nearby

The closest food businesses to Southcott Lower School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.

Business Distance Rating Inspected
Kidz Zone Club Caring Premises at this address 5 - Very good 12 June 2025
Licketylips / Charlie Browns Mobile caterer 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 20 March 2026
Linslade Lower School School/college/university 0.3 miles away 5 - Very good 20 November 2025
Greenleas Lower School School/college/university 0.4 miles away 5 - Very good 15 October 2024
Linslade Fish Bar Takeaway/sandwich shop 0.5 miles away 5 - Very good 19 February 2025
Amanda Nolan Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.5 miles away 5 - Very good 4 November 2025
Eagle Pizza Takeaway/sandwich shop 0.6 miles away 5 - Very good 30 May 2024
Indian Ocean Tandoori Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen 0.6 miles away 5 - Very good 24 February 2026

Questions about Southcott Lower School

What is Southcott Lower School's food hygiene rating?

Southcott Lower School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Central Bedfordshire Council on 12 December 2024.

Is Southcott Lower School safe to eat at?

The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.

When was Southcott Lower School last inspected?

Southcott Lower School was last inspected on 12 December 2024, 19 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Central Bedfordshire Council rather than by the business.

What did the inspector find at Southcott Lower School?

The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.

How does Southcott Lower School compare to other places in Central Bedfordshire?

76% of the 1,520 rated food businesses in Central Bedfordshire hold the top rating of 5, and Southcott Lower School is one of them.

Who decides the rating?

Central Bedfordshire Council inspects Southcott Lower School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.

Tell me when this changes

The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Southcott Lower School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.

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Understanding this rating

More food hygiene ratings near here

Southcott Lower School is one of 93 rated food businesses in Leighton Buzzard. See every hygiene rating in Leighton Buzzard

Central Bedfordshire inspects and rates 1,709 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Central Bedfordshire

The official record is held by the council: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →