Neale-Wade Academy
March, PE15 9PX · Cambridgeshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
34th of 34 secondary schools in Cambridgeshire we can score, 35 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 1.5/10 against 572 of them, against 1.1/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 9 | 35% | 0.30 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 30.2 · 16 | 30% | 0.48 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.73 · 7 | 25% | 0.19 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 36.7 · 8 | 10% | 0.08 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Neale-Wade Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 23.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 34.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.73 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in January 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils attend a poetry masterclass and a trip to Wimpole. A breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,130 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,758. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the attainment gap with national medians? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the breakfast club integrate with the wider pastoral care for secondary students?
What Ofsted said about Neale-Wade Academy
Overview
The report states that the school "requires significant improvement" because it is "performing significantly less well than it might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to perform." While leaders have driven marked improvements in attendance, behaviour, and pastoral care, pupil achievement remains low due to historical curriculum weaknesses and inconsistent teaching quality.
Strengths
- Attendance has "improved markedly over time," with a considerable reduction in regular absences.
- Behaviour is strong, creating a "calm learning environment" where bullying is rare and pupils are "kind and considerate."
- Pastoral support is a "clear strength," with pupils feeling "happy and safe" and confident in accessing help for personal challenges.
- Personal development is effective, with a structured programme covering current risks like "deepfakes" and promoting "fundamental British values."
- Sixth-form students achieve well, with A-level outcomes improving markedly and high-quality individualised guidance provided.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure pupil achievement improves so all groups are "well prepared for their next stage in education or training."
- Teachers’ pedagogical knowledge requires strengthening to ensure all pupils, including high prior attainers, are "appropriately challenged."
- Staff must provide "high quality and timely support" for vulnerable pupils, ensuring classroom adaptations are effective.
- Leaders should improve support for pupils’ "foundational knowledge in reading and writing."
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.0 |
| 2024/25 | 34.8 |
| 2025/26 | 36.7 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of PE15 9PX, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT