Schools by area › Bedford › Cauldwell School
Cauldwell School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 4–11 · Academy
Edward Road, Bedford MK42 9DR · cauldwellschool.com · 01234 301400
On the mapSearch near MK42 9DR
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Nov 2025 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 74%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Bedford 57%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.2
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 415
- 99% of 420 places
- Local authority
- Bedford
- Nursery class
- No
- Free school meals
- 21.4%
- First language not English
- 71.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 68 families put the school first and 59 places were offered; 87% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 59 | 68 | 1.2▲ | 87% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 58 | 59 | 1▲ | 95% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 58 | 67 | 1.2▲ | 79% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 59 | 63 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 60 | 58 | 1 | 97% |
Results
In 2024/25, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 2% the higher standard. Across Bedford it was 57%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲74% | 62% | ||
| ▼2% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●107 | 106 | ||
| ▲108 | 105 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 130326)
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Cauldwell School on 11 November 2025 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Needs attention
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 11 Nov 2025
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding Jan 2007Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Good
What parents said
90% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (20 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 90%
- Positive
- 89%
- Replies
- 20
- 5% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 90% who raised concerns
based on 4 parents (20%) whose child was bullied
based on 2 parents (10%) with SEND