Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School

About Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School

Cardinal Newman Catholic Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 142 applications for just 58 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.45. Of those, 64 families put it as their first preference, and 57 of those were offered a place. That kind of demand usually reflects strong word-of-mouth from current parents, and the school’s Good rating from Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection will only reinforce that confidence. The school is a Roman Catholic state primary in Elmbridge, Surrey, with 414 pupils on roll, very close to its capacity of 420. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is just 3.4%, well below the national average, which suggests a relatively affluent intake. The headteacher is Gerry Flower, and the school offers a range of facilities including a chapel, forest school, sensory room, and art studios.

Academically, Cardinal Newman performs strongly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 93% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Surrey local authority average of 66%. That puts the school second in Elmbridge out of 21 primary schools, and in the top 1% nationally. The average scores in reading and maths were both 108, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 36% achieved that level in reading and maths, and 16% in writing. The school’s ranking score of 93 places it just behind South Farnham School and The Raleigh School in the local league table. In its most recent ungraded inspection in March 2024, Ofsted confirmed the school remains Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. The previous graded inspection in 2012 had rated the school as Requires Improvement, so the improvement trajectory is clear.

For families considering Cardinal Newman, the practical picture is reassuring. The school has a strong set of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, visual impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. Sports on offer include rounders, cricket, football, netball, dance, cross country and tennis, while clubs range from drama and choir to chess, film club and gardening. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Cleves School, 2.3 km away, but given Cardinal Newman’s strong results and high demand, many families will find it meets their needs without looking further. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes within a faith-based setting, and who are prepared to apply early given the competition for places.

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