Lantern Community Primary School, Ely

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a happy and hardworking school and are proud to be based in Ely. Our aim is to ensure that the children shine their light in each community that they belong to - their family, their school and wider. Everyone at The Lantern works together as a team to teach and to learn."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include chess, art and French.

The school runs after-school care.

In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Lantern Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Cambridgeshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 83% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 52 families put Lantern Community Primary School as their first choice and 127 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Lantern Community Primary School are Isle of Ely Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 91% reading, 88% maths); Spring Meadow Infant School (0.7 miles, Good); Ely St Mary's CofE Junior School (0.7 miles, Good, 68% reading, 73% maths); and Ely St John's Community Primary School (1 mile, Good, 80% reading, 80% maths).

Lantern Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

Lantern Community Primary School is one of 36 schools run by Meridian Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

9.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (70%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 50 pupils (11.2%) received SEN support and 12 (2.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Ely Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Community College (entrance), 190 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Lantern Community Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 138 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Lantern Community Primary School issued 27 suspensions, 6.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.