Classpot

Cauldwell School

Bedford, MK42 9DRPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2026
KS2 Results
53%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
59 1st-choice / 58 places
Ranking
#9,952
of 13,686 nationally

About Cauldwell School

Cauldwell School in Bedford is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, and it is running very close to full capacity with 419 pupils against a school capacity of 420. That near-full roll makes sense given the demand: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 112 applications for 58 places, with 59 of those applications coming as first preferences. It is officially oversubscribed, with an oversubscription ratio of 1.93, meaning nearly two families compete for every place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 24.8%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and suggests the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. The school is non-religious and does not have a nursery or sixth form, so it is purely a straight-through primary. Judith Apps is the headteacher, and the school sits within the Bedford local authority in the East of England region.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressEdward Road, Bedford, Bedford, MK42 9DR
HeadteacherJudith Apps
Local AuthorityBedford
Number of Pupils419
Free School Meals (FSM)24.8%
School Capacity419 / 420 (100% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

1 Dec 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (1 Dec 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
LibrarySensory RoomPlaying FieldsGymnasiumChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

FootballCricketTennisAthleticsDance

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChoirEco ClubChessFilm Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:25

Breakfast club

07:30-08:45

After-school care

15:00-18:00

Source: cauldwellschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cauldwell School

Cauldwell School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.