Cadland Primary School

About Cadland Primary School

Cadland Primary School in the New Forest gives off a strong signal of local confidence. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school was oversubscribed, with 57 applications for 43 places, a ratio of 1.33 applicants per spot. Of those 57 applications, 41 were first-preference choices, and all 41 of those families received an offer. That suggests a solid reputation among parents who know the area. The school is a state primary for mixed genders, ages 4 to 11, and is non-religious. It currently has 372 pupils on roll against a capacity of 403, so there is a little breathing room, but the oversubscription data indicates that getting a place isn't guaranteed. The headteacher is James Nutbeam, and the school sits within Hampshire local authority.

Academically, Cadland performs around the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is just below the Hampshire local authority average of 61%. The school's ranking within the New Forest area is 18th out of 35 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of the local league table. Nationally, it sits in the 58th percentile. On individual subjects, reading and maths both had an average scaled score of 105, and 78% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, 77% in maths, and 63% in writing. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was 9%. The most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, rated the school Good across all categories, including behaviour, leadership, early years provision, and personal development. The previous inspection in 2013 had also rated it Good.

For families considering Cadland, the practical picture is worth weighing up. The school offers a range of facilities including a library, outdoor playground, sensory room, music rooms, ICT suite, forest school, and even a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, football, rounders, dance, and cricket, while clubs cover choir, chess, coding, and gardening. The school has a notable SEND provision, supporting pupils with moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, and physical disability. With 41.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment compared to the national average. It is not a boarding school, has no sixth form, and does not offer nursery provision. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Orchard Infant School, 4.1 km away. This school will suit families who value a well-resourced, inclusive local primary with a strong community feel, but who are realistic about its mid-table academic standing.

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