St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School, Cambridge

Ofsted's report card from its 24 February 2026 inspection grades St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a positive start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise inclusion."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school has experienced a period of instability following significant and unexpected changes in staffing and leadership since the last inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school plans its approach to personal development and wellbeing coherently."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have not achieved as well as they should."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders know that too many pupils are or have been persistently absent and missing school."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teachers do not consistently provide pupils with meaningful opportunities to develop the important knowledge they need in English and mathematics."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to implement their attendance strategy to improve pupils' attendance so all pupils benefit from what the school has to offer"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen staff expertise and ensure that teaching is consistently high quality so that the curriculum is implemented as intended"; "Leaders should raise attainment in phonics and writing so that all children achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently support pupils who face barriers to their learning so that these pupils can learn as effectively as possible".

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Cambridgeshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 80% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 26 families put St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School as their first choice and 63 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 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 St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School are Ridgefield Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 80% reading, 87% maths); The Galfrid School (0.7 miles, Good, 59% reading, 50% maths); St Matthew's Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 82% reading, 88% maths); and The Spinney Primary School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 79% reading, 79% maths).

St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

56 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School (as of April 2026): 95% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).

49.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (43%), Asian (12%) and Mixed (12%).

In 2026, 37 pupils (18.7%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Cambridge Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Vinery Way (near), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 392 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School issued 11 suspensions, 4.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Philip's CofE Aided Primary School are Coleridge Community College (0.6 miles), St Bede's Inter-Church School (0.8 miles), Parkside Community College (1.1 miles) and The Netherhall School (1.4 miles).