Bassingbourn Village College
105%
Capacity
658
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Bassingbourn Village College
Bassingbourn Village College was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection, a significant improvement from its previous rating of Requires Improvement. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year sits at -0.15, which is below the local authority average of 0.17 for Cambridgeshire. This places the school in the bottom half nationally, ranking 1,892 out of 3,141 schools on this key measure of pupil progress from Key Stage 2 to GCSE. The Attainment 8 score of 47.8 is a solid benchmark, and 72.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though this drops to 50% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.21 and the fact that only 25.8% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects suggest a curriculum that does not heavily prioritise the full English Baccalaureate route.
Breaking down the Progress 8 figures, the school performs weakest in English (-0.25) and open subjects (-0.28), while maths (-0.12) and EBacc subjects (-0.01) are closer to the national average. The confidence interval for the overall Progress 8 score ranges from -0.39 to 0.10, meaning the true figure could be slightly above or below average, but the banding is officially classed as Average. In the South Cambridgeshire local authority, Bassingbourn ranks 9th out of 10 schools on Progress 8, and 25th out of 39 secondary schools across the wider Cambridgeshire area. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils typically move on elsewhere after Year 11. Compared with its previous inspection, the rating has improved from Requires Improvement to Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good.
The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 205 applications for 119 places and 106 first-preference offers made from 123 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.72. Facilities include a swimming pool, tennis courts, a sports hall, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and an ICT suite, alongside a library and dining hall. Sports on offer include athletics, hockey, badminton, basketball, and martial arts, while clubs range from film and eco club to drama and chess. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. This is a school that has turned around its Ofsted rating and offers a broad range of activities, but families focused on top academic progress scores may want to compare it with higher-performing local options like Chesterton Community College or Sawston Village College.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | South End, Royston, South Cambridgeshire, SG8 5NJ |
| Headteacher | Ian Stoneham |
| Local Authority | Cambridgeshire |
| Number of Pupils | 658 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.9% |
| School Capacity | 658 / 625 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Apr 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Apr 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 15 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.15)
1892nd of 3,141
Nationally
220th of 350
In East of England
9th of 10
In South Cambridgeshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2310%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 125 pupils).
- Sixth form college58%
- FE college20%
- School sixth form (stay)10%
- Not sustained4%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship2%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed119
205
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
123 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:20
Source: bassingbournvc.net. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British82.4%
- White (other)5.2%
- Mixed3.9%
- Asian1.8%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
2
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bassingbourn Village College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
South End, Royston
South Cambridgeshire, SG8 5NJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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