Cobden School is a primary school for Years 1 to 8 on Fox Street in Cobden, Greymouth, nestled between the Grey River and the Tasman Sea, with the Twelve Apostles hills as a backdrop. It serves the Cobden community and the surrounding area. Most students move on to Greymouth High School or John Paul II High School after Year 8. An on-site playgroup, run in partnership with WestREAP, brings whānau into the school before children start.
Sport and culture are central here. Students take part in swimming, soccer, rugby league, hockey, basketball, miniball, kapa haka and performing arts, as well as leadership and environmental programmes. After-school music lessons are open to students from across the Greymouth area. Learning extends beyond the classroom, drawing on the local environment and the area's history. The school's values are Manaakitanga, Mahi Ngātahi and Kōrero Mai, and it works with support agencies such as Learning Support, RTLB and Public Health Nursing for children and families who need help.