St Edward's CofE Academy Cheddleton Review 2026: Village first school with nursery, strong routines, and improving momentum

What parents can use instead is the pattern of inspection evidence about learning. The October 2019 inspection describes strong organisation and subject knowledge in English and mathematics, with well-planned assessment helping pupils remember and practise learning. It also flags that some foundation subjects were not as consistently well sequenced at that time.

The more recent January 2025 ungraded inspection does not award graded judgements, but it is explicit that evidence suggests improvement may be significant across all areas, and it notes pupils becoming fluent readers with a developing love of reading, supported by an engaging curriculum and regular read aloud practice.

For families comparing local options, the most useful takeaway is this, the school has a Good baseline and a positive recent inspection signal, but the next graded inspection will be the one that locks in formal grades under the post September 2024 approach.

Teaching is shaped by time efficiency and repetition as a route to confidence. The school’s own curriculum framing stresses practice and recall, which tends to suit pupils who benefit from predictable structures and frequent opportunities to revisit key knowledge.

Reading is a defining feature. The January 2025 inspection notes that pupils who need extra support get extra practice, that pupils become fluent readers, and that staff choose books linked to curriculum topics so reading feeds wider knowledge, not just decoding.

In day to day terms, that approach typically means vocabulary is not left to chance. When staff align texts to topics, pupils repeatedly encounter the same domain language in stories, non-fiction, and lesson discussion. For children moving from nursery into Reception, or for pupils joining mid-year, this kind of deliberate coherence can reduce anxiety and help them feel competent quickly.

Because this is a first school (through to Year 4), transition is the next big decision point. Families should plan on a move into a local middle school pathway in Staffordshire’s three-tier system, or another approved route depending on where they live and what is available locally.

A practical implication is that parents need to think about “the next school” earlier than in a typical primary. If your longer-term plan involves a particular middle or primary option, it is worth checking how transport, timings, and peer group continuity typically work from this village setting. The school’s structured approach to learning and behaviour can make pupils well prepared for the step up, particularly for children who do best when routines are clear and learning time is protected.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. The main admissions route for Reception is coordinated through Staffordshire County Council, and for children starting school in September 2026 the published closing date is 15 January 2026.

Nursery entry is more flexible. The school states that children can be admitted to nursery following their third birthday, without needing to wait until the term after. For nursery session options and current charges, the school directs families via its own nursery and wraparound information rather than a single fixed fee table. Government-funded early education hours are available for eligible families, and it is sensible to ask how funded hours can be used alongside sessions.

Demand indicators suggest pressure, even without a published distance benchmark. In the provided admissions results for the primary entry route, there were 51 applications for 39 offers, which reinforces the importance of having realistic preferences and understanding oversubscription priorities. Families can use the FindMySchool Map Search to check practical distance and travel time, then sense-check it against the school’s likely allocation patterns in your year of entry.

Safeguarding is the non-negotiable baseline, and both the October 2019 inspection and the January 2025 inspection state safeguarding is effective.

Beyond safeguarding, wellbeing is addressed through structure and support. The January 2025 inspection notes that staff feel well supported and that leaders pay attention to workload and wellbeing. That matters because stable staff teams are often what underpin consistent behaviour standards and predictable routines for pupils.

The inclusion approach is also a wellbeing factor. Early identification of needs and practical strategies to remove barriers, including accessible ways for pupils to show understanding, are the kinds of details that can make school feel manageable for children who might otherwise disengage.

The most distinctive enrichment here is the way it connects activities to real life and to the local community.

Forestry appears both in school communications and in the January 2025 inspection narrative, suggesting it is not a token club but a lived part of wider personal development. For many pupils, outdoor learning is where confidence builds fastest, especially for children who struggle with long periods of seatwork.

Cooking club is another specific example, and it is unusually well rooted in community partnership. The school has run sessions supported by local chefs, giving younger pupils a chance to learn practical skills in a structured, exciting context. The implication is not that every child will become a foodie, but that learning is regularly made tangible, with clear steps and visible outcomes.

Pupil leadership routes, including Eco Council and Christian Council, provide a quieter kind of enrichment. For children who prefer influence over competition, councils give meaningful voice and responsibility without requiring sporting confidence.

School day timings are clearly set out. Early years run 8.40am to 3.00pm, and key stage one and two run 8.40am to 3.15pm.

Wraparound care is a genuine practical advantage for working families. The school operates a before and after-school club, and published policy states before-school provision runs 7.30am to 8.45am and after-school provision runs 3.00pm to 6.00pm during term time, with breakfast and snacks included.

For families planning transport, this is a village setting near Leek, so the usual questions are less about rail stations and more about car routes, parking at drop-off, and whether you can walk safely from your part of Cheddleton. If you are shortlisting, use Saved Schools to keep this alongside your other local options, then compare day length and wraparound availability in one place.

• First school structure. The school only runs through to Year 4, so families will make a transition decision earlier than in a standard primary. That can be a good fit for some children, but it does add an extra change point to plan for.

• Competition for places. The recent admissions results indicates more applications than offers for the main intake route, so entry can be competitive even at this age. A realistic plan matters.

• Nursery practicalities. Nursery entry is flexible after a child’s third birthday, but session patterns, funded hours, and availability vary, so families should check how places are allocated and what “typical” looks like in the term you need.

• Inspection framework shift. The January 2025 inspection is ungraded by design; the next graded inspection will provide the clearer set of formal judgements parents often look for when comparing schools.

A well-organised village first school with a nursery, clear routines, and a curriculum approach that takes practice and reading seriously. The most recent inspection evidence points to improvement momentum, with safeguarding secure and inclusion woven into everyday teaching.

Who it suits, families who want a small, structured setting for early years and key stage one, who value wraparound care, and who are happy to plan for an earlier transition after Year 4.