Cotgrave Candleby Lane School

About Cotgrave Candleby Lane School

Cotgrave Candleby Lane School is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11, located in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire. It is currently operating very close to full capacity, with 530 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 546. A quarter of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure that sits well above the national average for primary schools and signals a genuinely inclusive intake. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 97 total applications for just 49 places, with exactly 49 first-preference offers made. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.98, meaning nearly two families applied for every available spot. All first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while the school is popular, it is not yet impossible to get into for those who live nearby and apply early. The school does not have a religious character, and its nursery provision means children can join from age three.

Academically, Cotgrave Candleby Lane performs solidly but not spectacularly. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the local authority average of 61% for similar schools. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 5%, and individual subject higher scores were modest: 28% in maths, 24% in reading, and 9% in writing. Average scaled scores sat at 105 for both reading and maths, exactly in line with the national benchmark. In the Rushcliffe local authority ranking, the school places 21st out of 32 primary schools, and nationally it sits in the 36th percentile. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2023, awarded the top grade of Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This was a significant upgrade from its previous inspection in 2008, which was also Outstanding but only graded on a narrower set of criteria.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, library, art studios, ICT suite, and playing fields, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision covers gymnastics, swimming, cricket, cross country and tennis, while clubs include drama, eco club, film club and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists eight SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-subscribed but accessible state primary with strong Ofsted credentials, a diverse intake, and a genuine commitment to inclusion. It is not the highest-performing school in Rushcliffe academically, but its Outstanding rating and above-average expected standards make it a reliable choice for most local families.

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