Hardwick and Cambourne Community Primary School, Cambridge

Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.4km)Possible (~2.1km)Unlikely (~2.7km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Cate Oxley - Thompson
Pupils:585 / 735 capacity
LA:Cambridgeshire
Phone:01954210070
Address:Limes Road, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7RE
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Expected Standard
Behaviour
Expected Standard
Personal Development
Expected Standard
Leadership
Expected Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 14 April 2026View full report
URN:110748
UKPRN:10068882
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:South Cambridgeshire
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

This is a friendly, welcoming school where pupils have a strong sense of belonging and enjoy coming to school. The school excels at teaching reading from the earliest years and pupils achieve well across all subjects. Leaders and staff work hard to support all pupils, especially those with additional needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring everyone can access exciting experiences and succeed.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils become confident, fluent readers with strong reading knowledge from early years onwards
  • Pupils achieve well across academic and practical subjects, with attendance well below national average for absence
  • Staff consistently model the school's values, resulting in excellent behaviour and low rates of bullying
  • Early years provision prioritises reading and gives children a great start to their education
  • Leaders and governors work effectively together to improve the school and involve parents

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils have embedded misconceptions in writing basics like letter formation and spelling that need earlier intervention
  • Teachers' questioning is sometimes not precise enough to identify where pupils have misconceptions
  • In early years less structured play activities, adults don't always maximise opportunities to develop children's language and vocabulary
  • Some specialist teaching strategies for pupils with SEND are not yet fully embedded in classroom practice
  • Links between visits to places of worship and classroom learning could be stronger

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Sports, music, performance, school allotment tending, school council

Hardwick and Cambourne Community Primary School is a welcoming, inclusive school where pupils achieve well and feel safe. Leaders have created a positive culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are eager to learn.

At a Glance

19.5%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-7ppMaths-11ppWriting+3pp

Reading has declined from 85% to 78%. Maths has declined from 74% to 63%. Writing has remained stable at around 73%.

Class Sizes

27.9

Avg class size

12

Total classes

3 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

80%

Available places

585 pupils

735 capacity

150 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Cambridge

Low pressure
New homes approved:8,345
Projected new pupils:2,086

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Cambridge

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(7)

14 April 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
16 November 2021
15 September 2016

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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

4.97104%

Overall absence

11.50278%

Persistent absence

539

Enrolments

Authorised3.67038%
Unauthorised1.30066%
Persistent (10%+)11.50278%
Severe (50%+)0.92764%

Absence trend

3.26182%
18/19
3.78509%
20/21
6.30848%
21/22
5.73122%
22/23
5.26953%
23/24
4.97104%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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