Cambridge Maths School

About Cambridge Maths School

Cambridge Maths School is a small state sixth-form college in Cambridge that has turned around its fortunes dramatically since its last inspection. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school received a Good rating across every category — overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — all graded 2. That marks a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Inadequate overall, with sixth-form provision and leadership both graded 4. The school is highly selective in its intake, with only 80 pupils on roll against a capacity of 228, and a notably high proportion of students eligible for free school meals at 43.5 per cent. This suggests a school that is both academically ambitious and socially inclusive, drawing in students from across Cambridgeshire who are ready for a maths-focused curriculum.

The school does not publish Progress 8 or Attainment 8 scores, as it is a 16-19 institution, but its Ofsted report from 2023 gives a strong indication of academic quality. The sixth-form provision was not separately graded in the most recent inspection, but the quality of education was rated Good, and the school’s early years provision — which applies to its younger students — also scored Good. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score for secondary schools in Cambridgeshire is 0.17, which is above the national average. The school’s top local peers include Chesterton Community College (ranking score 1.05) and St Bede’s Inter-Church School (1.02), both of which are larger, all-through schools. Cambridge Maths School’s small size and specialist focus mean its results are likely to be strong, but parents should note that the school does not offer a broad range of A-level subjects — it is a maths specialist school.

Facilities include science labs, an ICT suite, art studios, a library, a gymnasium, and a sixth-form centre, plus an astro turf pitch and a chapel. The school offers a wide range of sports, from basketball and netball to martial arts, swimming, and rugby, and runs clubs including science club, debate, orchestra, and choir. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, as well as severe and profound multiple learning difficulties. The school is not oversubscribed — it has 80 pupils against a capacity of 228 — so admission is likely to be less competitive than at some local schools, though the specialist maths focus will naturally limit the pool. This school is best suited to students who are strong in mathematics and want a small, focused sixth-form environment with a strong pastoral and academic support system, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who might benefit from the high FSM rate.

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