Cedar Children's Academy, Rochester
Cedar Children's Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Rochester, part of The Thinking Schools Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 16th-highest of the 25 schools in Rochester with published results, and 9,801st of 14,452 across England. It was 97% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Medway (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Cedar Children's Academy in detail
Cedar Children's Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Join us for our Open Morning Tours to see our school in action and meet our staff and children. Spaces are limited so please secure your place by booking here. We strive to make all learning irresistible and transform life chances by: Happy to be in school, confident, brave, not over reliant on adults and willing to take risks."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Cedar Children's Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Medway and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 78% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Cedar Children's Academy
For September 2026 entry, 61 families put Cedar Children's Academy as their first choice and 128 named it as one of their preferences, for 66 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Cedar Children's Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cedar Children's Academy are Elaine Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 74% maths); St Nicholas CEVC Primary School (0.7 miles, Outstanding); Bligh Primary School (Juniors) (0.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 64% maths); and Bligh Primary School (Infants) (0.7 miles, Outstanding).
Cedar Children's Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.
Elaine Primary SchoolSt Nicholas CEVC Primary SchoolBligh Primary School (Juniors)Bligh Primary School (Infants)
The trust
Cedar Children's Academy is one of 26 schools run by The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
51 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cedar Children's Academy (as of September 2025): 75% would recommend the school, 82% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Who goes there
In 2026, 92 pupils (14.7%) received SEN support and 14 (2.2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Strood Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holly Road (just after), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cedar Children's Academy issued 39 suspensions, 6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Cedar Children's Academy are Leigh Academy Strood (0.7 miles) and Maritime Academy (1.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are happy to be part of this aspirational and caring school. They proudly contribute to the wider school community. Pupils act as play leaders and organise playground games and sports. Older pupils are trained as peer mentors to help younger pupils resolve friendship worries. In their roles as school councillors, pupils take part in surveys on school life and decision-making about improvements. Pupils make friends throughout the school and look forward to social times when they can play together.
Adults are excellent role models and inspire pupils to be their best selves. Pupils strive to live up to the school's high aspirations. In lessons, they focus intently and reflect thoughtfully on their learning. Pupils say the best thing about the school is that teachers always make learning interesting. Pupils speak with enthusiasm about the local history they find on school trips, such as visits to Rochester Museum and Cathedral.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has developed an inspiring curriculum. It is broad and well sequenced, building towards ambitious goals for pupils. Adults are knowledgeable about the most important parts of the curriculum that must be taught, so pupils' learning builds securely.
Teachers have secure subject knowledge. They are clear in their explanations so that pupils fully understand new learning and do not fall behind. For example, when learning about the number two, teachers show Reception children precisely how to write the number in the air with their fingers. Teachers model many different examples of two objects and actions. Pupils become fluent at recognising quantities. When older pupils learn about the Victorians, teachers explain the meaning of contextual vocabulary, such as 'bonnet' and 'shilling'.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2019 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
27.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
51 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 78% to 72% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 73% to 66% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
26.7
Avg class size
26.6
Infant (KS1)
29.4
KS2
23
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Cedar Children's Academy
Cedar Children’s Academy Sports Day 2026 - Competitive ME A Celebration of Team Spirit, Resilience and Community Jul 22, 2026 10:00am
22 Jul 2026
Cedar Children’s Academy Celebrates World Day of Cultural Diversity with Creativity, Community and Colour Cedar Children’s Academy celebrated World Day of Cultural Diversity with a carnival‑style...
5 Jun 2026
Refurbished nursery expansion now welcomes two-year-olds We're proud to open a new nursery space, expanding our early years provision and welcoming two-year-olds into the school community for the...
12 May 2026
"Where Every Voice Matters": Cedar Children’s Academy Achieves UNICEF Silver Award We are delighted to announce that Cedar Children’s Academy has been recognised by UNICEF UK with the Silver: Rights...
27 Apr 2026
Two Marathons, One Amazing School Community Our school celebrated an exciting TCS Mini Marathon on site, while twelve pupils proudly represented us in the London Mini-Marathon, joining 22,000...
27 Apr 2026
Eco Ambassador Training with Active Kent & Medway - Social ME Active Kent & Medway delivered Eco Ambassador Training with workshops on sustainability and active travel, enabling pupils to plan...
26 Mar 2026
From Cedar Children's Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Cedar Children's Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Cedar Children's Academy.
- Little Larges Day Nursery After School Club440m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cedar Children's Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cedar Children's Academy is in Medway; for families living there:
Apply to Medway for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 31
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 27 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Medway is 25 (the median across 117 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 Cedar Children's Academy
Will you get a place at Cedar Children's Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Cedar Children's Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Cedar Children's Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Cedar Children's Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Medway, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Cedar Children's Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Medway 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
97%
Near capacity
610 pupils
630 places
20 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rochester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rochester
Across Medway council
Places available
3,675
Applications
3,130
Got 1st preference
93.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Medway council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
92
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
16.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
627
Total Pupils
312
Boys
315
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
22.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,553
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,022
Per pupil
£3385k
Total funding
£241k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.1%
Overall absence
10.3%
Persistent absence
536
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Cedar Children's Academy
Questions parents ask about Cedar Children's Academy
What are SATs results like at Cedar Children's Academy?
Of the pupils at Cedar Children's Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 72% reached the expected standard in reading and 71% did so in maths.
What is Cedar Children's Academy's Ofsted rating?
Cedar Children's Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cedar Children's Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Cedar Children's Academy is oversubscribed, Medway allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Cedar Children's Academy?
Cedar Children's Academy was close to full in 2025, at 97% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Cedar Children's Academy?
Classes at Cedar Children's Academy average 26.7 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Cedar Children's Academy?
Cedar Children's Academy has around 627 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cedar Children's Academy?
5.1% of sessions were missed at Cedar Children's Academy in 2024/25. 10.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cedar Children's Academy?
Apply through Medway's coordinated admissions process, naming Cedar Children's Academy 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.
Does Cedar Children's Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Cedar Children's Academy: Little Larges Day Nursery After School Club (440m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Cedar Children's Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 31 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 27 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Medway is 25 (the median across 117 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cedar Children's Academy?
Cedar Children's Academy is at Cedar Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent, ME2 2JP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)