Cardinham School, Bodmin
Cardinham School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Bodmin, part of Truro & Penwith Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 15 schools in Bodmin with published results, and 3,694th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cornwall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cardinham School in detail
Cardinham School in its own words
In its own words: "Set in the heart of Cornwall, Cardinham School serves the children of the village of Cardinham, its surrounding farms and hamlets, and families from nearby towns who value the warm, nurturing and family atmosphere of which we are so proud."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Cardinham School reached the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (83% in reading, 83% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Cardinham School
For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Cardinham School as their first choice and 20 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cardinham School are Blisland Primary Academy (2.6 miles, Good); St Petroc's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (3.3 miles, Requires improvement, 73% reading, 71% maths); Beacon Academy (3.7 miles, Good, 93% reading, 88% maths); and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bodmin (3.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 60% maths).
Cardinham School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Blisland Primary AcademySt Petroc's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolBeacon AcademySt Mary's Catholic Primary School, Bodmin
The trust
Cardinham School is one of 41 schools run by Truro & Penwith Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
12.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (93%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 8 pupils (9.9%) received SEN support and 3 (3.7%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Cardinham School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Colesloggett Halt (Bodmin and Wenford Railway), about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Telephone Box (opposite), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1 crime within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cardinham School issued 12 suspensions, 14.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from July 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
12.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 83% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 83% to 92% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 92% to 85% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.3
Avg class size
31.0
KS2
3
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Cardinham School
Term dates
Cardinham School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Cornwall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cardinham School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cardinham School is in Cornwall; for families living there:
- Cornwall's school travel policy: Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2026/27
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Cardinham School
Will you get a place at Cardinham School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Cardinham School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Cardinham School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Cardinham School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Cardinham School for 2019 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cornwall got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
95%
Near capacity
80 pupils
84 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bodmin
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bodmin
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,475
Applications
4,732
Got 1st preference
95.9%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
13.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
81
Total Pupils
39
Boys
42
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
16.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£39,994
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,519
Per pupil
£575k
Total funding
£15k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
7.0%
Persistent absence
71
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Cardinham School
What are SATs results like at Cardinham School?
Of the pupils at Cardinham School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 92% did so in maths.
What is Cardinham School's Ofsted rating?
Cardinham School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cardinham School?
No fixed boundary. When Cardinham School is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Cardinham School?
Cardinham School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Cardinham School?
Classes at Cardinham School average 27.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Cardinham School?
Cardinham School has around 81 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cardinham School?
4.5% of sessions were missed at Cardinham School in 2024/25. 7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cardinham School?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming Cardinham School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Cardinham School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cardinham School?
Cardinham School is at Cardinham, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 4BN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)