Newnham Croft Primary School

About Newnham Croft Primary School

Newnham Croft Primary School in Cambridge is a state primary that is currently running very close to its full capacity of 230 pupils, with 222 children on roll. The school serves a relatively affluent local intake; just 7.2% of its pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably lower than the national average. Demand for places is strong and the school is officially oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 102 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.4 to one. Of those applicants, 53 put Newnham Croft as their first preference, and 27 of those families were offered a place. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular choice among Cambridge parents, and that securing a place often requires living within the catchment area or having a strong connection to the school.

Academically, Newnham Croft performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Cambridgeshire local authority average of 58%. The school also excels at stretching its higher achievers: 24% of pupils scored at the higher standard across all three subjects. Reading scores are particularly strong, with an average scaled score of 111 and 65% of pupils achieving the higher standard. In maths, the average score was 107, with 32% reaching the higher threshold. The school ranks 8th out of 26 primary schools in the Cambridge local authority area for its expected standard performance, placing it in the top 50% nationally. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024 confirmed the school remains Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a gymnasium, sports hall, library, art studios, playing fields and a sensory room, which supports its SEND provision. Newnham Croft caters for a broad spectrum of additional needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. Extracurricular activities include eco club, coding, film club, gardening and book club, while sports on offer cover swimming, netball, athletics and dance. The school has no nursery provision and is not a boarding school. Given its strong academic outcomes, high demand and relatively low FSM intake, Newnham Croft is likely to suit families who place a premium on academic attainment and can secure a place through proximity or priority criteria. Those unable to get in may want to consider nearby alternatives such as the University of Cambridge Primary School, which is rated Outstanding and sits 2.7 km away.

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