Cradley CofE Primary School, Malvern
Cradley CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Malvern. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 13 schools in Malvern with published results, and 12,253rd of 14,452 across England. It was 66% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2024)
- 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 Herefordshire, County of (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cradley CofE Primary School in detail
Cradley CofE Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "We have 11 Christian Values, chosen by the whole school community, which are embedded throughout our school life, including curricular, extra-curricular work and collective worship. We have a Value of the Month and the themes of that value run throughout the month. Alongside our Values, sit our Learning Behaviours."
From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome to Cradley Nursery @ Cradley CE Primary School. In February 2012 the governors at Cradley took the bold decision to take on the running of its own nursery within the heart of the school."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, tennis, basketball, multi-sports, cross-country, running, yoga and dance.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Cradley CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Herefordshire, County of; and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 85% in reading and 92% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Cradley CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Cradley CofE Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 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 Cradley CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cradley CofE Primary School are St James' CofE Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 82% reading, 82% maths); Northleigh CofE Primary School (2 miles, Good, 81% reading, 74% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Malvern (2.2 miles, Good, 69% reading, 69% maths); and Somers Park Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Cradley CofE Primary School.
St James' CofE Primary SchoolNorthleigh CofE Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School MalvernSomers Park Primary School
Who goes there
4.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (7%).
Staffing
Cradley CofE Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Malvern Link Rail Station, about 2.8 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Buryfields (adjacent), 90 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cradley CofE Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Requires Improvement at its March 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Early years.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Quality of education (Requires Improvement), Leadership & management (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
21.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 85% to 60% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 92% to 67% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 85% to 73% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
16.0
Avg class size
19.0
KS2
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Cradley CofE Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cradley CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cradley CofE Primary School is in Herefordshire, County of; for families living there:
- Herefordshire, County of's school travel policy: School transport policy
- How to apply: Apply for school transport
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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 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 Cradley CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Cradley CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Cradley CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Cradley CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Cradley CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Herefordshire, County of, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Cradley CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Herefordshire, County of 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
66%
Available places
78 pupils
119 places
41 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Malvern
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Malvern
Across Herefordshire, County of council
Places available
2,131
Applications
1,553
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Herefordshire, County of council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
24.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
73
Total Pupils
47
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
10.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,562
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,836
Per pupil
£634k
Total funding
£36k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
11.5%
Persistent absence
78
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Cradley CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Cradley CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Cradley CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 60% reached the expected standard in reading and 67% did so in maths.
What is Cradley CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Cradley CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2024, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Cradley CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Cradley CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Herefordshire, County of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Cradley CofE Primary School?
Cradley CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 66% of its 119 places.
How big are the classes at Cradley CofE Primary School?
Classes at Cradley CofE Primary School average 16 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Cradley CofE Primary School?
Cradley CofE Primary School has around 73 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cradley CofE Primary School?
5.7% of sessions were missed at Cradley CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 11.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cradley CofE Primary School?
Apply through Herefordshire, County of's coordinated admissions process, naming Cradley CofE Primary 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 Cradley CofE Primary 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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Cradley CofE Primary School?
Cradley CofE Primary School is at Cradley, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR13 5NG.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)