Prestley Wood Academy, Alconbury Weald
Prestley Wood Academy is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 19 in Alconbury Weald, part of Horizons Education Trust.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Prestley Wood Academy in detail
Prestley Wood Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Our high quality practice is driven by the individual pupil's EHC Plan. At Prestley Wood Academy, we are dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment where every voice is heard and valued. As a result, our values are created by our pupils, and upheld by our School Council."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
The trust
Prestley Wood Academy is one of 3 schools run by Horizons Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
40.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 12.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (72%), Mixed (7%) and Black (6%).
Almost every pupil at Prestley Wood Academy has an education, health and care plan (97 of 97 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Huntingdon Rail Station, about 3.2 miles away in a straight line.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 24 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, other crime and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57).
Suspensions and exclusions
Prestley Wood Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
No inspection data available
At a Glance
40.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 1 nearby school
Latest from Prestley Wood Academy
Prestley post summer 2 26 newsletter
21 Jul 2026
Eco Code for our School
8 Jul 2026
Prestley post summer 1 26 newsletter
22 May 2026
Parent carer events summer 26 2
22 May 2026
Prestley post spring 2 26 newsletter
27 Mar 2026
Parent Carer events summer 1 26
27 Mar 2026
From Prestley Wood Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Prestley Wood Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Prestley Wood Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Prestley Wood Academy is in Cambridgeshire; for families living there:
- Cambridgeshire's school travel policy: School Travel Assistance Policy - Mainstream September 2025 326KB - pdf
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
65%
Available places
97 pupils
150 places
53 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Alconbury Weald
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Alconbury Weald
Across Cambridgeshire council
Places available
7,228
Applications
6,755
Got 1st preference
88.3%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Cambridgeshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
97
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
97
Total Pupils
59
Boys
38
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
6.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,209
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.3%
Overall absence
24.6%
Persistent absence
57
Enrolments
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Prestley Wood Academy
Questions parents ask about Prestley Wood Academy
What is the catchment area for Prestley Wood Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Prestley Wood Academy is oversubscribed, Cambridgeshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Prestley Wood Academy?
Prestley Wood Academy has around 97 pupils on roll. 40% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Prestley Wood Academy?
7.3% of sessions were missed at Prestley Wood Academy in 2024/25. 24.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Prestley Wood Academy?
Apply through Cambridgeshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Prestley Wood Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Prestley Wood Academy?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Prestley Wood Academy?
Prestley Wood Academy is at Windsor Road, Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire, PE28 4BL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)