Welcome to Cardinham School
Set in the heart of Cornwall, Cardinham School serves the children of the village of Cardinham, its surrounding farms and hamlets, and families from nearby towns who value the warm, nurturing and family atmosphere of which we are so proud.
Originally opened in 1881, the front of our historic main building would still be recognisable to the school's very first pupils. Behind this traditional façade, however, the school has evolved significantly to meet the needs of modern learners. Over the years, our facilities have been enhanced through classroom extensions, covered outdoor learning areas and the development of our extensive grounds.
Our large playing field is home to Woodside, an additional classroom building where our Hedgehog Class learn. Recently extended, The Woodside now provides a vibrant learning environment for our Nursery, EYFS and Year 1 children, supporting both indoor and outdoor learning experiences. We are also fortunate to have a beautiful Reflection Garden, generously funded by our local community, which provides a peaceful space for children to learn, reflect and enjoy the natural environment.
Our second building, known as Hillside, is home to Squirrel Class and Deer Class. Although we operate across two sites, we are committed to ensuring that we remain one school community. Children regularly spend time learning, playing and celebrating together through shared assemblies, reading events and whole-school activities. These opportunities help to build strong relationships across year groups and strengthen our sense of belonging.
We pride ourselves on our close connection with the local community. The Parish Hall is used regularly for indoor sports activities and for our annual Christmas performance, one of the highlights of the school year. The village church plays an important role in school life, hosting our Harvest Festival celebrations and Christmas services, while also serving as a valuable learning resource. The stunning Cardinham Woods are within safe walking distance of the school and provide an exceptional setting for outdoor learning, adventurous activities and curriculum enrichment.
At Cardinham School, we place children at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to creating an environment where every child feels valued, supported and encouraged to achieve their very best. We focus on developing confidence, resilience and motivation, helping children to become successful learners and caring individuals. Our approach to behaviour is rooted in positivity, recognising and celebrating what children do well while guiding them towards making positive choices. We firmly believe in the principle of:
"Treat children as they might become, not as they are."
We believe that a broad and enriching curriculum is essential in developing confident, motivated and well-rounded young people. Alongside high-quality classroom learning, children enjoy a wide variety of extra-curricular opportunities, including sports, music, drama, gardening, crafts and many other enrichment activities. We actively encourage every child to take part in clubs throughout the year, and these opportunities are carefully mapped through our Personal Development Curriculum. We are passionate about providing opportunities for every child to excel and therefore participate in a wide range of music, drama and sporting events, both competitive and non-competitive, across the local area.
Our standards in the core subjects have consistently been above average, and our success extends beyond the classroom into sport, the arts and personal development. The high levels of support from both parents and children, combined with our strong reputation, have made Cardinham School a popular choice for families both within and beyond our catchment area. Our commitment to providing a rich and varied education has been recognised through a number of awards, including Communication Friendly Status, the Healthy Schools Award, the RHS Gardening Award, Activemark and Sports Network Awards.
We are also proud to be part of the Truro and Penwith Academy Trust (TPAT), a family of schools united by a shared commitment to providing the highest quality education for all children. Membership of the Trust provides invaluable opportunities for collaboration, professional development and the sharing of expertise across schools. The support and guidance we receive from TPAT help us continually develop our provision and ensure the best possible outcomes for our pupils. A key source of support is Mr Johnson, Assistant Director of Education, who works closely with the school, providing challenge, encouragement and expert guidance to help drive ongoing improvement and success.
Cardinham School was judged Good by Ofsted in 2010 and retained this judgement in July 2015 under a more demanding inspection framework. We continue to build upon these strong foundations, striving to provide the very best educational experience for every child.
Choosing a school for your child is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. We warmly encourage prospective families to visit us and experience our school community for themselves. We hope you will find Cardinham School to be a welcoming, caring and ambitious school where every member of staff is dedicated to helping children flourish and where positive, open and honest relationships with families are highly valued.
We look forward to welcoming you to our school community.