Northstowe Learning Community
Cambridge, CB24 1DJ · Cambridgeshire · all-through school
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15th 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.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.3/10 against 890 of them, against 7.7/10 nationally. 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 59.5 · 80 | 30% | 2.41 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.3 · 73 | 25% | 1.82 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 52.8 · 80 | 10% | 0.80 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Northstowe Learning Community overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2023. In 2024/25, 55.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 51.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.3 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (7.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 920 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,830. 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 in transitioning between primary and secondary phases within the all-through structure? What specific support is available for pupils who need additional help to reach the national median in attainment? How does the school maintain its Good rating following the 2023 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Northstowe Learning Community
Overview
Northstowe Secondary College is a well-regarded school where pupil well-being is a clear priority, resulting in happy students who feel supported by staff. The report highlights an "ambitious curriculum" and high expectations for behaviour and achievement, with leaders demonstrating "relentless" dedication to providing the best education.
Strengths
- Pupils are "happy" and benefit from strong support systems, including access to therapeutic resources like "Oscar the dog".
- Teachers plan learning clearly, breaking it into "progressive steps" that build on prior knowledge, allowing pupils to develop a "secure body of knowledge".
- Staff effectively support pupils with special education needs and/or disabilities (SEND), ensuring the "majority of pupils with SEND learn well".
- Leaders foster high staff morale through "high-quality professional development" and maintain positive relationships with parents and the community.
- Personal development is robust, with pupils gaining confidence through clubs and activities while learning about "healthy relationships" and other cultures.
Areas to improve
- In some curriculum areas, teachers do not "systematically check how well pupils are learning," leading to unaddressed gaps and repeated mistakes.
- Leaders must ensure staff have the "secure expertise" to consistently identify and address misunderstandings so pupils achieve as well as they should.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are "effective," with a "robust safeguarding culture" where staff are vigilant, trained, and work well with external agencies to support vulnerable pupils.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 51.9 |
| 2024/25 | 51.4 |
| 2025/26 | 52.8 |
| 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
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