Marden Lodge Primary School and Nursery, Caterham

Good
Primary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 211

Data last updated 12 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~594m)Possible (~848m)Unlikely (~1.1km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Sarah Rumbol
Pupils:215 / 219 capacity
LA:Surrey
Phone:01883343014
Address:Croydon Road, Caterham, CR3 6QH
Trust:GLF SCHOOLS
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2013

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:139915
UKPRN:10042435
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:East Surrey
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This is a welcoming school where pupils feel valued and cared for from their first day in Nursery. The school excels at supporting all learners, including those with additional needs, through warm relationships and tailored support. Leaders are determined to provide enriching experiences for every child, ensuring disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs participate fully in school life.

Key Strengths

  • Strong early years provision with children settling quickly and developing independence and problem-solving skills
  • Effective identification and support of pupils with additional needs, including those with speech and language delays
  • Well-established behaviour routines resulting in calm, focused classrooms and positive pupil attitudes
  • Leaders' ambitious vision and quick action on improvement areas, such as early reading and writing fluency
  • Rich enrichment opportunities including theatre and museum visits, residential trips, and celebrations of world religions

Areas for Improvement

  • High rates of persistent absence meaning many pupils miss learning and enrichment opportunities
  • Some pupils not yet sufficiently fluent writers by end of key stage 1 to fully demonstrate knowledge across curriculum
  • Teaching less effective when addressing early-stage writing errors, particularly handwriting
  • Year 1 phonics screening outcomes dipped below national averages (though catch-up is now effective)

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified and managed, keeping pupils safe.

Extracurricular Activities

School trips to theatres and museums, residential visits, visits to places of worship, Diwali and Eid celebrations

Marden Lodge Primary School and Nursery provides a broad, engaging curriculum with effective support for pupils with additional needs. The school maintains a calm, positive learning environment where pupils feel safe and well-nurtured.

At a Glance

38.5%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+6ppMaths+17ppWriting+14pp

Reading has improved from 76% to 82%. Maths has improved from 69% to 86%. Writing has improved from 59% to 73%.

Class Sizes

25.6

Avg class size

29.7

Infant (KS1)

22.5

KS2

7

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Train Stations

Whyteleafe South Rail Station (entrance 1)
962m · 16 min walk

Bus Stops

Marden Lodge School (adj)
54m · 1 min walk
Tillingdown Hill (adj)
285m · 5 min walk
Wapses Lodge Roundabout (Stand)
441m · 7 min walk
Court Bushes Road (adj)
570m · 9 min walk
Beechwood Gardens (opp)
572m · 9 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

98%

Near capacity

215 pupils

219 capacity

4 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Caterham

High pressure
New homes approved:634
Projected new pupils:159

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Caterham

Admissions Demand - Surrey

Low demand0.91x oversubscription

Places available

13,213

Applications

12,004

Got 1st preference

88.4%

Got preferred school

98.3%

Primary admissions across Surrey (2025/26)

Inspection History(104)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.6501%

Overall absence

26.54321%

Persistent absence

162

Enrolments

Authorised5.65617%
Unauthorised2.99393%
Persistent (10%+)26.54321%
Severe (50%+)3.08642%

Absence trend

4.68282%
18/19
5.22999%
20/21
9.87771%
21/22
9.95699%
22/23
9.57559%
23/24
8.6501%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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