Hills Road Sixth Form College

About Hills Road Sixth Form College

Hills Road Sixth Form College sits in a curious position within Cambridgeshire’s secondary landscape. The local authority average Progress 8 score for state secondary schools is 0.17, which is already above the national baseline. Hills Road, however, is a 16-19 institution and therefore does not publish a Progress 8 score — that metric applies to schools with pupils from age 11 to 16. What the college does offer is a clear academic profile that stands apart from the typical secondary school in the area. It is one of only eight schools in the county rated Outstanding by Ofsted, out of 39 state secondaries total, placing it in the top tier locally. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is St Bede’s Inter-Church School, 1.8 kilometres away, but Hills Road’s specialism as a dedicated sixth form means it draws students from across Cambridge and beyond, not just its immediate catchment.

Academically, Hills Road operates in a different league from the average Cambridgeshire secondary because it focuses entirely on post-16 study. The college’s most recent Ofsted inspection awarded it Outstanding across all categories, including the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a significant achievement given that only eight of the 39 state secondaries in the local authority hold that top grade. While the LA average Progress 8 of 0.17 reflects solid performance for 11-16 schools, Hills Road’s sixth-formers typically achieve A-level results that place it among the highest-performing state colleges nationally. The college does not publish a Progress 8 score because the measure is not designed for 16-19 institutions, but its consistent Ofsted rating and strong reputation suggest outcomes well above the local norm for students continuing into higher education.

The college’s facilities and extracurricular offer are unusually broad for a state sixth form. There is a swimming pool, ICT suite, playing fields, library, dedicated sixth form centre, and dining hall. Sports include rowing, martial arts, rugby, netball, and athletics, while clubs range from Eco Club and Model UN to Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This breadth suits students who want strong academic preparation alongside serious enrichment. Admissions are oversubscribed, reflecting the college’s reputation, and there is no nursery provision or boarding. Hills Road is best suited to academically motivated 16- to 19-year-olds who are ready for a college environment with high expectations and a wide range of opportunities, rather than a traditional school setting. Families should be aware that it is a non-religious, mixed institution with no uniform requirement, and that its Cambridge location means competition for places is fierce.

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