Exning Primary School, Newmarket

Ofsted's report card from its 7 July 2026 inspection grades Exning Primary School on 7 areas: 2 exceptional and 5 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Exceptional. "Inclusion is woven into everything the school does."

Leadership and governance - Exceptional. "The shared vision and work of school leaders and those at trust level are of an exceptional quality."

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders work extremely closely with parents and carers to support families so that pupils have good attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders at all levels, including governors and trustees, have an in-depth understanding of the quality of their curriculum."

Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders at all levels are knowledgeable about the importance of their early years provision."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "A comprehensive programme of personal, social and health education is in place, supplemented by topics covered in discussion and assemblies."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure they continue to evaluate and refine all aspects of the school's work to sustain the highest standards of teaching and learning and the school's wider provision".

In 2025, 84% of Year 6 pupils at Exning Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 81% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 49 families put Exning Primary School as their first choice and 86 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.6 first choices for every place. 19 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Exning Primary School are Laureate Community Academy (1 mile, Good, 71% reading, 75% maths); Paddocks Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 71% reading, 82% maths); Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy (1.9 miles, Good, 67% reading, 71% maths); and Burwell Village College (Primary) (2 miles, Good, 73% reading, 84% maths).

Exning Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Exning Primary School is one of 10 schools run by Eastern Education Group Trust, an academy trust.

16.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 36 pupils (16.1%) received SEN support and 27 (12.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.

Exning Primary School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties: 15 places, 16 pupils on roll.

Exning Primary School had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Newmarket Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (outside), 70 metres away.

Exning Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.