Best Schools in Ely

These schools serve pupils with particular needs, so they aren't ranked against mainstream schools on exam results. Places are usually arranged through the council, often via an Education, Health and Care plan.

Active Learning Trust Linc 19 - 25Ages 19-25 · Good
Highfield Ely AcademyAges 2-19 · Good
Highfield Littleport AcademyAges 2-19 · Good
The Harbour SchoolAges 5-16 · Requires Improvement

Questions parents ask about schools in Ely

How many schools are there in Ely?

Ely has 30 open schools: 21 state primary, 4 state secondary or all-through, 1 independent and 4 special.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

Which schools in Ely are rated Outstanding?

1 school in Ely was rated Outstanding at its most recent graded Ofsted inspection: Soham Village College. Counting Good as well, 96% of the 25 graded schools here are rated Good or better. Ofsted stopped giving single-word overall grades in September 2024, so these are the grades from each school's last full inspection.

Soham Village College

Source: Ofsted

Which secondary schools in Ely get the best GCSE results?

Of the 5 schools in Ely with 2026 GCSE results, the highest Attainment 8 scores - the average grade across a pupil's best eight GCSEs - were at Ely College, with an Attainment 8 score of 53.7 and 58% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above; Soham Village College, with an Attainment 8 score of 52.5 and 54% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above; and Witchford Village College, with an Attainment 8 score of 42.3 and 42% passing English and maths at grade 5 or above. Progress 8, the DfE's value-added measure, was not published for 2026.

Ely College Soham Village College Witchford Village College

Source: DfE school performance data

Which primary schools in Ely have the best SATs results?

Of the 18 primary schools in Ely with 2025 Key Stage 2 results, the highest shares of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading and maths were at Mepal and Witcham Church of England Primary School (100% in reading, 100% in maths); Isle of Ely Primary School (91% in reading, 88% in maths); and Isleham Church of England Primary School (83% in reading, 80% in maths). Small schools can swing a long way from one year to the next, because each pupil is a large share of the result.

Mepal and Witcham Church of England Primary School Isle of Ely Primary School Isleham Church of England Primary School

Source: DfE school performance data

Are there grammar schools in Ely?

No. None of the state secondary schools in Ely selects pupils by ability, so every state secondary here is comprehensive.

Source: DfE Get Information About Schools

How close do you need to live to get into schools in Ely?

It depends on the school, and the cut-off moves every year with the number of applications. Cambridgeshire published how far the last place offered went at these schools: Ely College, 4.221 miles for 2024 entry; Soham Village College, 6.944 miles for 2024 entry. These are the authority's own figures, not fixed boundaries.

Ely College Soham Village College

Source: Cambridgeshire admissions booklets

How do I apply for a school place in Ely?

Apply to your council - Cambridgeshire or Cardiff, depending on your address - through its coordinated admissions process, even for academies and faith schools. In England the closing date is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts. Independent schools run their own admissions, so apply to those directly.