Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Newcastle-under-Lyme. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases in detail
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases in its own words
In its own words: "At CEDARS we are committed to ensuring equality of opportunity including providing access and opportunities for all. Together, we will build a community where relationships, rooted in kindness and care, will change lives."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Where pupils go next
Of the 23 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 30% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 30% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.
Who goes there
54.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 48 pupils (100%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Platform 2, about 940 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marsh Avenue (opposite), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 214 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Staffordshire (86), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 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, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This is a school where staff work hard to give pupils a fresh start with their education. Many pupils arrive here having been excluded from their previous school or having been out of education for long periods of time. Staff get to know pupils well. They take the time to build warm and trusting relationships with pupils to help them re-engage with learning.
Pupils' behaviour is highly variable. Staff do not consistently challenge pupils' derogatory language when it is used. In addition, some pupils wander between classrooms or linger in corridors; they do not always follow the instructions of staff. All of this combined can lead to some lessons being disrupted.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school is in the process of reviewing the curriculum. Pupils in key stage 4 work towards achieving GCSE and functional skills qualifications. Alongside this, pupils can also achieve a variety of other unit awards. In some subjects, the school has not set out the building blocks of knowledge that pupils need to know to complete more complex tasks.
This does not help pupils to secure the relevant prior knowledge they need and to build on what they already know. As a result, pupils do not make the progress of which they are capable or achieve well in their examinations.
From Ofsted's June 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 November 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
54.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Keep up with Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases is in Staffordshire; for families living there:
Apply to Staffordshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 14
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
6 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 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
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Newcastle-under-Lyme
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newcastle-under-Lyme
Across Staffordshire council
Places available
8,807
Applications
7,681
Got 1st preference
91.9%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Staffordshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
48
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
48
Total Pupils
27
Boys
21
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
3.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,031
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases
What is Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases's Ofsted rating?
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases?
No fixed boundary. When Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases is oversubscribed, Staffordshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases?
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases has around 48 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases?
Apply through Staffordshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 10 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 6 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 Staffordshire is 5 (the median across 457 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases?
Cedars - Newcastle, Moorlands and Darwin Bases is at High Street, Knutton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 6BX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)