Friday Bridge Community Primary School, Wisbech

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Friday Bridge Community Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard and 5 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school has been on a journey of rapid improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme has been a priority."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over the last 3 years, too many pupils have left the school without achieving what is expected for their age."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance is below the national average."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The effectiveness of teaching varies too much."

Early years - Needs attention. "Children do not achieve as well as they should by the end of Reception."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Barriers to learning for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are now identified rapidly."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers develop stronger skills in how to effectively deliver the curriculum, including adapting the curriculum for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure that attainment at all stages of the school improves, so that more pupils gain the knowledge needed for the next stage of their education"; "Leaders should continue to review and further develop their strategies to reduce absence and persistent absence, so that more pupils attend school regularly"; "Leaders and those responsible for governance should further develop positive working relationships with parents and carers so that more parents have an understanding of the school's work and are supportive of this".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Friday Bridge Primary School, we believe that strong, positive relationships provide the foundations for a school to flourish. We enjoy ‘working together for success’ within an optimistic and positive culture of excellence. Our school is proud to be a part of the Wisbech Schools’ Partnership which strive to create ambitious and successful schools where every child thrives."

The school runs a breakfast club, from £2 per day.

In 2025, 41% of Year 6 pupils at Friday Bridge Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 53% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Cambridgeshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 50% in reading and 20% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 5 families put Friday Bridge Community Primary School as their first choice and 10 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Friday Bridge Community Primary School are Elm CofE Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 68% reading, 74% maths); Emneth Academy (2.4 miles, Good, 64% reading, 72% maths); Upwell Academy (2.6 miles, Good, 59% reading, 41% maths); and Elm Road Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 65% reading, 71% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Friday Bridge Community Primary School.

15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Friday Bridge Community Primary School (as of September 2026): 33% would recommend the school, 53% say their child is happy there and 25% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (53%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (25%).

43.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 32 pupils (36%) received SEN support and 1 (1.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Friday Bridge Community Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 24 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Friday Bridge Community Primary School.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Well End (opposite), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 16 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57).

In 2024/25, Friday Bridge Community Primary School issued 24 suspensions, 23.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.