Last reviewed: January 2026 · Rankings and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Cardinham School is a very small primary, with nursery provision and an intimate roll and capacity of 84. That size shapes almost everything, from relationships to routines and it tends to suit families who like a close-knit setting where children are well known.
The academic headline is more balanced in the current 2024-25 / 2025 dataset. 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and the school ranks 5,309th out of 14,978 schools in England for primary academic outcomes. On FindMySchool's local primary ranking it is 3rd in the Bodmin area, so the picture remains positive but no longer top-decile.
Leadership is currently listed on the school website as interim headteacher Mr Matthew Larcombe.
This is a rural school serving Cardinham village and surrounding hamlets and farms, as well as families who travel in from further afield because they want a small setting. That mix often matters in practice. It means the community is not solely a “walk-to-school” catchment and the roll can include children who commute, which can be helpful socially for pupils who do not live in the immediate village.
Because the roll is small, daily life can feel personal and structured. Pupils tend to have regular access to senior staff and responsibilities can be meaningful rather than tokenistic. The most recent inspection narrative describes pupils as happy and welcoming, with clear behaviour expectations that reduce disruption to learning. (One practical implication for parents is that behaviour is less likely to be “policed by volume”. In a school of this size, consistency and relationships do most of the work.)
The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
Nursery sits as a real front door into the school rather than a separate add-on. The nursery page emphasises outdoor learning in wooded surroundings, regular creative activity such as art and singing, and an intention to prepare children for Reception and Key Stage 1. Take the tone as directional rather than a guarantee, but it does signal priorities and how the early years day is framed.
The results profile is unusually strong for a small primary.
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths combined): 70% met the expected standard in the current 2024-25 / 2025 dataset, based on a cohort of 13 pupils.
Higher standard: 10% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths.
Subject indicators: reading expected standard 80%, writing 80%, maths 90%, grammar, punctuation and spelling 80%, science 90%.
Rankings add context. Ranked 5,309th out of 14,978 schools in England for primary academic outcomes and 3rd in Bodmin on the local primary ranking, the school remains inside the top half nationally, but the current picture is no longer a top-decile one.
A useful way to interpret this, especially for parents of younger children, is that the school is not just producing a few high attainers. The expected-standard figure is high, and the higher-standard figure is also high. That combination usually points to both secure core teaching and stretch for pupils ready to move faster.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
69%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
The curriculum story, based on the inspection evidence and published curriculum information, is one of breadth with a clear intent to sequence knowledge carefully, then revisit it so pupils remember more over time.
Reading is positioned as central. The inspection report describes an ambitious phonics approach from the start of school, regular checks on what pupils know, and targeted support for those who need to catch up. The implication is practical, early decoding is treated as a priority rather than an “it will come” assumption, which matters in a small school where gaps can be very visible.
Writing is taught through a Talk for Writing model, structured around imitate, innovate and invent, with punctuation and grammar taught in the context of the texts being studied. For many pupils, that approach makes writing less abstract because sentence choices are anchored in models they have explored in detail.
The one caution from the inspection narrative is consistency, especially in early years and in some newer subject areas. Expectations are described as clear, but not yet fully embedded everywhere, particularly around independent learning routines in early years. For parents of nursery and Reception children, it is worth asking how independence is built through the week, not just what adults provide.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
As a state primary, the main transition point is into Year 7 at a Cornwall secondary school.
Cornwall uses designated (catchment) areas for admissions, and an address can sometimes sit in a shared area with more than one designated school. Because of that, the most accurate planning step is to check the Cornwall Council mapping tools for your specific address rather than relying on general assumptions about “nearest”.
In practice, a small primary can offer a calm runway into secondary, but the move can feel bigger simply because Year 6 cohorts are small. It is sensible to ask what transition links look like in a typical year, for example joint activities, staff handover, and how pupils are supported if they move to different secondaries.
Demand can shift sharply in a school this small, so avoid treating a single older admissions cycle as predictive. For Reception entry in September 2027, Cornwall's coordinated timetable opens applications on 1 September 2026, closes them on 15 January 2027 and issues offers on 16 April 2027.
For Reception entry (September 2027), Cornwall Council's coordinated admissions deadline is 15 January 2027, with outcomes issued on National Offer Day, 16 April 2027. Applications open on 1 September 2026, and the listed appeal deadline is 17 May 2027.
If a family misses the main admissions window and needs an in-year place, Cornwall states that applications for a September 2026 start are accepted from 20 May 2026 (up to eight school weeks ahead).
Nursery entry is separate from Reception. Even if a child attends a school nursery, families still need to apply for Reception through the local authority process.
Practical tip: if you are comparing several local primaries with different oversubscription patterns, FindMySchool’s Map Search and comparison views can help you sanity-check travel distance and shortlist trade-offs in one place.
Applications
21
Total received
Places Offered
8
Subscription Rate
2.6x
Applications per place
The September 2022 Ofsted inspection confirmed the school remains Good and that safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Beyond that headline, there are a few details worth pulling out. Pupils are described as clear about different forms of bullying and confident that adults will act quickly if problems arise. The school also uses structured ways for pupils to raise concerns, including class-based worry mechanisms, which can be especially valuable for quieter children in a small setting.
For families considering nursery and Reception, the inspection’s developmental point about independence is relevant to wellbeing too. Independence routines are not just “academic readiness”. They also affect confidence, friendships, and how children handle transitions within the day.
A small school can struggle to offer breadth, so named, practical clubs matter. Cardinham School publishes a club list that includes Bikeability, Lego, Yoga, Dance, and Football, alongside past offerings such as Kwik Cricket, Cross-country, Italian, and Netball. In a small primary, those options do more than fill time after school. They broaden friendship groups across ages, and they give pupils “identity hooks” beyond the classroom, which supports confidence.
Performance opportunities are also part of the picture. The inspection report references pupils enjoying performing publicly, including a recent school play titled Holes. For some children, especially those who are not naturally sporty, that kind of structured stage experience can be the point where they find their voice.
The school describes a two-site structure, with early years based at Woodside and Years 1 to 6 in the main school building. The published daily timetable shows the main school day ending at 3:10pm for Years 1 to 6, and 3:00pm for the early years day.
Wraparound care is clearly set out. Breakfast club runs from 8:00am to 8:45am, and after school club runs from 3:15pm to 5:00pm.
On travel, this is a rural setting, so many families will drive. For public transport planning, Transport for Cornwall publishes timetables including service information such as route 201 (Bodmin College to Warleggan, via Mount), which can help families check whether a bus connection is realistic for their household. Rail users for the wider Bodmin area typically travel via Bodmin Parkway on the main line.
Small roll, small cohort effects. With capacity at 84, year groups are small. That often feels supportive, but it can also mean limited same-age friendship choice if two pupils do not naturally click.
Admissions timing. For September 2027 Reception entry, Cornwall's primary application deadline is 15 January 2027, with offers issued on 16 April 2027. In a small school, use backup preferences because demand can change year to year.
Early years independence work in progress. The inspection narrative flags that early years routines and independent learning opportunities were not yet consistently established at the time of inspection. For nursery and Reception families, ask what has changed since then and how independence is taught day to day.
Cardinham School's appeal is the combination of a genuinely small, village-scale setting with current KS2 outcomes that sit inside the top half nationally on FindMySchool's academic ranking. It looks well suited to families who value close relationships, clear behaviour culture, and a structured curriculum that takes reading seriously from the start. Entry remains a practical planning point, and for early years families it is worth checking how independence and routines are built, because that is where the inspection pinpointed further development.
Cardinham School's most recent inspection outcome states that it continues to be a Good school, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. In the current 2024-25 / 2025 Key Stage 2 dataset, 70% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined.
Primary places are allocated through Cornwall Council’s admissions process, using oversubscription criteria rather than a simple “nearest school” assumption. Cornwall also uses designated areas, and some addresses sit in shared areas, so the most reliable step is to check your specific address using Cornwall Council’s mapping tools.
Yes. The school publishes a breakfast club and after school club timetable, which is helpful for working families planning wraparound childcare.
Applications for September 2027 Reception entry are coordinated by Cornwall Council. Applications open on 1 September 2026, close on 15 January 2027 and offers are issued on 16 April 2027. Cornwall lists 17 May 2027 as the appeal deadline.
The school publishes a club list that includes options such as Bikeability, Lego and Yoga, alongside sport and creative activities. Club availability can change termly, so it is sensible to confirm the current programme when you enquire.
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Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
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