Cauldwell School, Bedford
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 10 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Cauldwell School excels at creating an inclusive, happy environment where every child feels valued. Teachers are skilled at supporting pupils with different needs, including those new to English, and the school celebrates cultural diversity throughout the year. Pupils develop strong reading skills and benefit from numerous enrichment opportunities that broaden their horizons.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional inclusion and support for pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, and those learning English as an additional language
- High attendance and excellent behaviour, creating a calm and purposeful learning environment
- Strong personal development programme with rich cultural opportunities and wellbeing support
- Secure teaching of reading and early literacy skills
- Positive relationships between school, families and the wider community
Areas for Improvement
- Quality of writing instruction needs to match the high standard of teaching in other subjects
- Early years provision requires more high-quality adult interactions during play-based learning
- Writing expectations in early years sometimes exceed children's current skills and knowledge
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
International Week, young carers club, wellbeing club, reading buddies programme, brass instrument lessons, eco-council, poetry performance at local festival, sports competitions
Cauldwell School is a highly inclusive primary school where pupils thrive in a warm, welcoming environment with strong attendance and behaviour. Leaders create a culture where all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged learners, are well supported and valued.
At a Glance
21.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 72% to 87%. Maths has improved from 72% to 92%. Writing has improved from 64% to 75%.
Class Sizes
29.9
Avg class size
29.8
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
14
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
415 pupils
420 capacity
5 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bedford
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bedford
Admissions Demand - Bedford
Places available
2,690
Applications
2,103
Got 1st preference
93.6%
Got preferred school
99.3%
Primary admissions across Bedford (2025/26)
Inspection History(5)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.26837%
Overall absence
10.02571%
Persistent absence
389
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Cauldwell School
St John's School
Bedford Free School
Bedford Girls' School
Grange Academy
Daubeney Academy
Bedford Academy
Bedford School
Biddenham International School and Sports College
Greys Education Centre
Castle Newnham School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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