Last reviewed: February 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 If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
There is a particular kind of confidence that comes with being a genuinely small school. Madron Daniel Church of England School serves its community on the edge of Penzance with a Reception to Year 6 intake that is deliberately intimate, plus an on-site nursery from age two. The setting leans into its location and outdoor space, and the school’s own language centres on an ambitious, values-led curriculum shaped by Hope, Courage and Perseverance.
Leadership has also been through a period of change. An executive headteacher took up post in April 2024, and the most recent inspection sets out where improvement is still required, alongside a calmer day-to-day culture that pupils and parents often prioritise in a small primary.
This is a Church of England school where the faith element is explicit rather than decorative. The school describes a close relationship with the Diocese of Truro, and positions its Christian foundation as central to daily life and expectations. For some families, that clear framing is reassuring, particularly if they want worship and values education to be part of the week rather than an occasional assembly theme. For others, it is something to weigh carefully, especially if they prefer a more secular approach.
The scale matters. The current inspection report describes pupils organised into three mixed-age classes, a structure that can bring older pupil role modelling and a family feel, but also needs strong planning to ensure each year group gets the right level of stretch. The same report also paints a picture of warm staff-pupil relationships and a calm culture, with pupils feeling supported by adults if worries arise.
The school’s own emphasis on its extensive grounds and its outlook over Mounts Bay also signals how learning is intended to work here. Outdoors is not just a break-time add-on; it is part of the identity, and families who value fresh air, outdoor play, and local context threaded through the curriculum are likely to feel this aligns well.
What can be stated with confidence is the most recent inspection grading profile. The latest Ofsted report from the section 5 inspection (20 to 21 May 2025, published 26 June 2025) graded Quality of Education as Requires Improvement, Leadership and Management as Requires Improvement, and Early Years as Requires Improvement, with Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development graded Good.
The school describes its curriculum as the Rise Up curriculum, framed as broad and balanced and rooted in its Christian values of Hope, Courage and Perseverance. The practical implication for families is that the values framework is intended to be visible in lessons and wider school routines, not confined to worship.
In a mixed-age-class model, the strength of teaching often sits in careful sequencing and routine, so that pupils can work independently while adults target instruction precisely. The most recent inspection evidence points to positive attitudes to learning for most pupils, and to adults building strong relationships from the early years upwards, which is often a key enabler of progress in small cohorts.
Early years is a significant part of the offer because the nursery starts at age two and sits alongside Reception. For families, that can reduce friction at transition points, particularly if a child benefits from consistency of adults, routines, and site. The Cornwall Council admissions guidance is clear that attending a nursery does not remove the need to apply for Reception through the normal process.
For most families, the key “next step” question is Year 7. Cornwall’s published secondary admissions documentation lists Madron Daniel C of E School among the primary schools within the designated area associated with Mounts Bay Academy, which is a useful starting point when you are thinking about likely transfer patterns and local peer groups.
Transition also matters within the school itself. The school’s published information highlights planned transition sessions in the summer term, and notes that additional transition support is used where needed, including for pupils who benefit from a more gradual move.
For Reception entry, applications are coordinated by Cornwall Council, not handled as a private “apply direct to the school” process. For September 2027 Reception entry, Cornwall Council’s timetable has applications available from 1 September 2026, an application deadline of 15 January 2027, and National Offer Day on 16 April 2027 for on-time applications.
If you miss the deadline, the council sets out staged processing for late applications and preference changes, with later rounds notified after National Offer Day. This matters in a small school because even modest changes in cohort size can affect availability.
. If you are shortlisting, using FindMySchool’s Map Search to sense-check practical travel distance still helps, but final allocation depends on Cornwall’s published oversubscription criteria in the relevant year.
A small primary lives or dies by relationships and consistency. The most recent inspection report describes pupils experiencing the school as calm and kind, with adults helping them with worries, and pupils moving around sensibly and including one another at social times. Those are not flashy claims, but for many parents they are high value indicators of day-to-day wellbeing.
There are also signals that structured wellbeing and inclusion approaches are part of the operational model, including the use of a before-school provision and an emphasis on supportive routines for pupils who need a softer start.
The school’s extracurricular offer is not generic. A published after-school clubs leaflet for Spring Term 2025 lists, among others, Art Club, Board Games Club, a Class 2 Maths Club (Years 5 and 6), and coached Key Stage 2 invasion games, with activities including football, tag rugby, basketball, dodgeball, and hockey. The practical implication is that clubs are doing two jobs at once, enrichment and childcare cover until 4:15pm on club days.
There is also a strong “whole school programme” feel to enrichment. The website highlights Forest Schools, Eco-Schools, Artsmark, and curriculum tools such as Times Tables Rock Stars, Spelling Shed, and White Rose Maths Host School. These signals matter because they point to the kinds of learning routines pupils will experience daily, particularly in maths and spelling practice, and to the way creative arts and outdoor learning are positioned as core rather than occasional.
The school day is clearly set out. Gates open at 8:30am, pupils come into school for an 8:45am start, lunch is 12:15pm to 1:15pm, and the day ends at 3:15pm.
Nursery provision runs alongside the main school. The nursery page sets out morning sessions (8:30am to 11:30am) and afternoon sessions (12:15pm to 3:15pm) and references part-time and full-time funded-hour patterns for eligible ages. For current nursery fees, use the nursery’s own page rather than relying on third-party summaries.
Wraparound care exists in the form of a before-school club, and the school’s published planning documents reference breakfast provision as part of supporting attendance and readiness to learn. However, start and finish times for breakfast club are not consistently published in one clear place, so families should confirm current hours directly with the school.
Recent inspection profile: The most recent inspection graded Quality of Education, Leadership and Management, and Early Years as Requires Improvement. Families should read the report carefully and ask how the improvement plan is being tracked term by term.
Mixed-age classes: Three mixed-age classes can be a real strength for confidence and peer modelling, but it relies on excellent sequencing and differentiation. Ask how staff plan for coverage and challenge across year groups within one room.
Faith is central: The Church of England character is prominent in the school’s stated vision and ethos. If you want a more secular primary experience, this may not be the right fit.
Admissions timing is unforgiving: For September 2027 entry, the Cornwall deadline is 15 January 2027, and late applications are processed later. If you are moving house or unsure, plan early and use all preference slots wisely.
Madron Daniel Church of England School is best understood as a small, values-led primary with nursery provision and a strong emphasis on relationships, outdoor space, and a clearly stated Christian foundation. The main challenge is confidence in the improvement journey after a recent Requires Improvement grading profile. It suits families who actively want a Church of England ethos, prefer a small-school feel, and are comfortable asking detailed questions about curriculum consistency and early years development.
The school offers a small, community-focused primary experience with nursery provision and a clear Church of England ethos. The most recent inspection (May 2025) graded Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development as Good, with Quality of Education, Leadership and Management, and Early Years graded Requires Improvement.
Cornwall Council coordinates admissions and allocates places using published oversubscription criteria. Use Cornwall’s admissions guidance for the relevant year and check how your home address sits against the criteria.
Yes. The nursery takes children from age two, and the school also has Reception on the same site. Attending the nursery does not remove the need to apply for a Reception place through Cornwall Council by the normal deadline.
Cornwall Council states the Reception application deadline is 15 January 2027, with National Offer Day on 16 April 2027 for on-time applications.
A recent published clubs leaflet includes Art Club, Board Games Club, a Maths Club for older pupils, and coached Key Stage 2 invasion games (for example football and tag rugby), with clubs typically finishing at 4:15pm on club days.
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