Sawston Village College
Cambridge, CB22 3BP · Cambridgeshire · secondary school
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10th 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 — 8.9/10 against 818 of them, against 8.7/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 60.2 · 82 | 30% | 2.45 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.87 · 96 | 25% | 2.39 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 54.2 · 83 | 10% | 0.83 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sawston Village College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 61.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 55.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 stood at +0.87 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting 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 (9.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in zorb football and junkyard orchestras. Trips include visits to the Ardèche, Rhineland, Normandy, and Wandlebury Country Park.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,198 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,140. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores? How are trips to locations like the Ardèche funded?
What Ofsted said about Sawston Village College
Overview
Sawston Village College continues to be a good school, described as a "welcoming, friendly and caring" environment where leaders and teachers share high expectations. The report highlights a strong ethos of pupil leadership and an ambitious curriculum that helps pupils make strong progress and prepares them well for future studies.
Strengths
- The school fosters a positive culture where pupils are "happy," behave well, and feel safe, with bullying incidents being rare and handled "swiftly and decisively."
- Teachers possess the expertise to deliver a carefully planned curriculum, using effective feedback and regular checks to fill knowledge gaps.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) access the same "ambitious curriculum" as their peers, supported by skilled adjustments and high-quality staff training.
- There is a strong tradition of music and performing arts, alongside a wide variety of enrichment activities such as sports clubs, STEM, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
- Staff feel well supported, with leaders demonstrating care for workload and well-being, such as suspending meetings during examination periods.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure approaches to promoting attendance result in regular attendance for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, who currently miss too much learning.
- Leaders should continue making minor readjustments to curriculum plans so that teachers’ explanations are clear and all pupils fully understand what they have been taught.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders developing "highly effective systems" to keep pupils safe and responding rapidly to concerns using external agencies when necessary.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 60.3 |
| 2024/25 | 55.5 |
| 2025/26 | 54.2 |
| 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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