SchoolScoresCauldwell School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of HEART ACADEMIES TRUST
Edward Road, Bedford, MK42 9DR
01234 301400 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 11 November 2025 , published 3 February 2026.
In short: 3 strong, 3 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
20 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Bedford comparisons use the 5 of its 66 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 61 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 39% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 86% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 60% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 89% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 58% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 79% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 18 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 38% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 74% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bedford. Higher than 44% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 5%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bedford figures pool parents at the Bedford schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
53 pupils in this year group.
74% — 17 points above the Bedford average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 74% | 57% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 3% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 87% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 75% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 92% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 103 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bedford. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 68 |
| Of those, offered a place | 59 (87%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 135 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.2
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bedford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 16th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 59% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.0% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 92% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 13.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 69.0% | 28.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 15th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 72% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 26th lowest of 65 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.0% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 22nd lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 16th lowest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.2% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 47th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 31% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.0 | 21.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 35th highest of 66 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 22nd highest of 57 state primary schools in Bedford. Higher than 58% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.7% | 14.8%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Shackleton Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Camestone School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Priory Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen's Park Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westfield Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- King's Oak Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elstow School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Polam School 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Springfield Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bedford Road Primary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 6 expected, 1 needs attention · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Cauldwell School's Ofsted rating?
Cauldwell School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 11 November 2025. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 strong, 3 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Cauldwell School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Cauldwell School?
90% of the 20 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Cauldwell School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Cauldwell School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 68 families put Cauldwell School as their first choice for 59 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 59 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 144528.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.