Downham Feoffees Primary Academy, Ely

Good
Primary
Academy sponsor led
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.6km)Possible (~2.3km)Unlikely (~3.0km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Christopher Axten-Higgs
Pupils:150 / 210 capacity
LA:Cambridgeshire
Phone:01353699325
Address:Main Street, Little Downham, Ely, CB6 2ST
Trust:MERIDIAN TRUST
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2017

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:144947
UKPRN:10065086
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Ely and East Cambridgeshire
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This is a welcoming school where staff know pupils well and treat them as individuals. The curriculum is broad and engaging, with particularly strong teaching in reading and mathematics from the start. Pupils with additional needs receive excellent support, helping all children make good progress and feel confident learners.

Key Strengths

  • Strong focus on reading, writing and mathematics with pupils building secure foundations from the start
  • Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, with inclusive and highly effective provision
  • Well-behaved pupils who understand clear expectations and conduct themselves respectfully
  • Broad, ambitious curriculum with frequent opportunities to revisit and connect learning
  • Effective early years provision with focus on speech, language and communication

Areas for Improvement

  • Feedback given to pupils is not always precise enough to help them improve the quality of their work
  • Impact of enrichment opportunities for disadvantaged pupils is not tracked and adjusted as rigorously as provision for pupils with SEND
  • Pupils' knowledge of some religions is mixed and could be developed further

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

After-school clubs, lunchtime clubs, school council, performances at events, annual residential trip to Norfolk

Downham Feoffees Primary Academy is a happy school where pupils enjoy learning an engaging, well thought-out curriculum that is taught well. Staff know pupils as individuals and provide strong support, particularly for those with special educational needs, helping pupils achieve in line with national averages.

At a Glance

14.0%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-7ppMaths+19ppWriting+3pp

Reading has declined from 68% to 61%. Maths has improved from 64% to 83%. Writing has remained stable at around 78%.

Class Sizes

24.8

Avg class size

20.3

Infant (KS1)

29.3

KS2

6

Total classes

1 class with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

71%

Available places

150 pupils

210 capacity

60 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Ely

Low pressure

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Ely

Admissions Demand - Cambridgeshire

Low demand0.78x oversubscription

Places available

8,190

Applications

6,413

Got 1st preference

94.4%

Got preferred school

98.8%

Primary admissions across Cambridgeshire (2025/26)

Inspection History(103)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.91807%

Overall absence

6.29371%

Persistent absence

143

Enrolments

Authorised3.09644%
Unauthorised0.82162%
Persistent (10%+)6.29371%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

3.5675%
18/19
3.66801%
20/21
5.80569%
21/22
4.59818%
22/23
4.5912%
23/24
3.91807%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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