Samuel Pepys School, St Neots
Samuel Pepys School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in St Neots. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2019)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Samuel Pepys School in detail
What parents say
39 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Samuel Pepys School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (97%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 6 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
50.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Samuel Pepys School has an education, health and care plan (138 of 138 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Samuel Pepys School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Neots Rail Station, about 1070 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Duck Lane (opposite), 220 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 179 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Samuel Pepys School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Samuel Pepys School excels at helping all pupils - including those with the most complex needs - achieve things previously thought impossible. Staff create a positive, can-do ethos where pupils approach learning with exceptional determination and develop strong relationships with peers and staff. The school combines expert teaching with outstanding pastoral support, ensuring pupils gain the confidence, knowledge and skills to make positive steps into education, employment or training.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally well-designed curriculum that integrates pupils' education, health and care plan outcomes seamlessly
- Highly effective teaching of reading and communication, with pupils making excellent progress
- Excellent behaviour and emotional regulation support, helping pupils manage their feelings and return to learning
- Outstanding preparation for adult life, including work experience and Duke of Edinburgh awards for sixth form students
- Strong leadership, staff training and governance that drive continuous school improvement
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Work experience, Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, camping, adventure pursuits including power boating, community volunteering
Samuel Pepys School is a special school for pupils aged 3-19 with moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities. The school has maintained the outstanding standards identified at its previous inspection in March 2019.
At a Glance
50.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +9
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
39 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 2 nearby schools
Keep up with Samuel Pepys School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Samuel Pepys School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Samuel Pepys School 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)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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
84%
Available places
138 pupils
165 places
27 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - St Neots
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for St Neots
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.
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
138
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Samuel Pepys School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
138
Total Pupils
87
Boys
51
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
6.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,713
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.3%
Overall absence
29.0%
Persistent absence
107
Enrolments
Absence trend
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
Samuel Pepys School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Samuel Pepys School
What are SATs results like at Samuel Pepys School?
Of the pupils at Samuel Pepys School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Samuel Pepys School's Ofsted rating?
Samuel Pepys School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2019, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Samuel Pepys School?
No fixed boundary. When Samuel Pepys School is oversubscribed, Cambridgeshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Samuel Pepys School?
Samuel Pepys School has around 138 pupils on roll. 51% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Samuel Pepys School have specialist SEN provision?
Samuel Pepys School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Samuel Pepys School?
9.3% of sessions were missed at Samuel Pepys School in 2024/25. 29% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Samuel Pepys School?
Apply through Cambridgeshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Samuel Pepys School 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 Samuel Pepys School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Samuel Pepys School?
Samuel Pepys School is at Cromwell Road, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 2EZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)