Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School, Royston

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades Steeple Morden CofE VC 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.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance has improved significantly, including for pupils who are often absent and especially for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and for disadvantaged pupils."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that the early years curriculum clearly builds children's knowledge over time."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The school's new leaders, ably supported by governors, are having a significant and positive impact on its improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that the school has a carefully considered personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Generally, pupils' outcomes are close to national averages in reading and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Sometimes, staff do not adapt teaching in lessons to meet the needs of pupils well, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or disadvantaged pupils."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "The support that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive does not always meet their specific needs well enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff use information from checks on pupils' learning to ensure that support is suitably adapted to meet the varied needs of pupils, including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should make certain that staff resolve gaps in pupils' reading, writing and mathematical knowledge securely, so that these pupils catch up quickly"; "Leaders should ensure that staff set precise targets for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities and take ownership for increasing the amount of progress that these pupils make from their starting points"; "Leaders should check that staff implement the curriculum in the ways that the school intends, so that pupils achieve as highly as they should".

In its own words: "In 1867 the Vicar of the Parish, William Martin, started a church day school, having obtained a government grant and financial support from New College and Lord Hardwicke. A classroom was added in 1872 and by 1880 average attendance was between 95 and 120."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics, multi-sports, gardening, art, photography and debating.

The school runs after-school care until 6:00pm.

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 67% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Cambridgeshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 86% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School as their first choice and 27 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 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 Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School are Guilden Morden CofE Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Good); Ashwell Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 93% reading, 89% maths); Bassingbourn Primary School (2.8 miles, Requires improvement, 66% reading, 64% maths); and Dunton CofE Junior School (3.2 miles, Good).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School.

12.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 22 pupils (15.6%) received SEN support and 3 (2.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Ashwell & Morden Rail Station, about 2.6 miles away in a straight line.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Craft Way (opposite), 60 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 12 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57).

In 2024/25, Steeple Morden CofE VC Primary School issued 21 suspensions, 14.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.