The Centre School, Cambridge
The Centre School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Cambridge, part of Astrea Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Centre School in detail
The Centre School in its own words
In its own words: "Our curriculum aims to produce young people that are successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. Our goal is to ensure that every one of our students can access a life of choice and opportunity when their time at The Centre School comes to a close."
Coming up: an admissions event on Tuesday 24 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 26 January 2027, an open day on Tuesday 16 March 2027 and an open evening on Tuesday 18 May 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Cambridgeshire
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Centre School are Hope Tree School (2 miles, Good, selective); The Martin Bacon Academy (2.4 miles); The Cavendish School (2.6 miles, Outstanding); and Gretton School (3.1 miles, selective).
Hope Tree SchoolThe Martin Bacon AcademyThe Cavendish SchoolGretton School
The trust
The Centre School is one of 26 schools run by Astrea Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 24 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 63% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 17% to a further education college.
Who goes there
63.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at The Centre School has an education, health and care plan (137 of 137 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
The Centre School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Waterbeach Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bramley Close (near), 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Centre School issued 142 suspensions, 103.6 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE multi-academy trust performance data; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2024 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
At a Glance
63.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Centre School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Centre School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Centre 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
- 4
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
2 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
105%
Over capacity
137 pupils
130 places
7 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cambridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cambridge
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(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
137
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Centre School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
137
Total Pupils
125
Boys
12
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
34
Teachers
4.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,333
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
22.8%
Overall absence
55.2%
Persistent absence
125
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
The Centre School
Questions parents ask about The Centre School
What are GCSE results like at The Centre School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at The Centre School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is The Centre School's Ofsted rating?
The Centre School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2024.
What is the catchment area for The Centre School?
No fixed boundary. When The Centre School is oversubscribed, Cambridgeshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Centre School?
The Centre School has around 137 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Centre School have specialist SEN provision?
The Centre School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at The Centre School?
22.8% of sessions were missed at The Centre School in 2024/25. 55.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Centre School?
Apply through Cambridgeshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Centre 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 The Centre School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 2 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 The Centre School?
The Centre School is at High Street, Cottenham, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB24 8UA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)