Sir Harry Smith Community College
Peterborough, PE7 1XB · Cambridgeshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
33rd 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 the 870 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.8/10 among them, against 1.5/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 32.4 · 19 | 46% | 0.88 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.66 · 10 | 38% | 0.37 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.6 · 14 | 15% | 0.21 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Sir Harry Smith Community College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 33.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.66 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.0 out of 10 among them, against 1.8 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,084 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,210. 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 gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific interventions are in place to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Sir Harry Smith Community College
Overview
The inspection found that the school provides a "broad and often ambitious curriculum," but inconsistencies in teaching mean pupils "do not achieve as well as they should." While lessons are generally calmer and pupils feel safe, the report highlights significant gaps in knowledge, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Strengths
- The curriculum is well-structured, with teachers often recapping content before introducing new learning.
- Pupils have "many opportunities to broaden their interests" through clubs, trips, and employer engagement.
- Pastoral staff provide positive support, and specific provisions like the ‘yellow corridor’ act as "welcoming havens" for worried pupils.
- Sixth-form students are "well supported with applications" for higher education and learn about personal finance.
- Reading support for younger pupils is described as "timelier and more effective" than that for older pupils.
Areas to improve
- The school must establish systems to gather "detailed, timely information" on pupil achievement, attendance, and behaviour to accurately target support.
- Staff require better knowledge and support to "successfully adjust the curriculum" for all pupils, particularly those with SEND, to close knowledge gaps.
- The school needs to address barriers to attendance for disadvantaged pupils and ensure the personal development programme is delivered effectively so pupils learn essential knowledge for life in modern Britain.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 38.5 |
| 2024/25 | 40.6 |
| 2025/26 | 38.6 |
| 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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