Sawston Village College
105%
Capacity
1,194
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Sawston Village College
Sawston Village College is a state secondary school in South Cambridgeshire, part of the Cambridgeshire local authority, and it sits among a strong field of local competitors. Within the LA, it ranks third overall for Progress 8, behind Chesterton Community College and St Bede's Inter-Church School, which both post even higher scores. But Sawston is the top-ranked school in its immediate South Cambridgeshire district, coming first out of ten schools there, and it places 16th across the whole East of England region out of 350 secondaries. That puts it comfortably in the top five per cent nationally. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form on site. It is noticeably oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, 389 families applied for 232 places, with 261 listing it as their first preference, and 221 of those received offers.
Academically, Sawston delivers results that are well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.87 is significantly higher than the Cambridgeshire LA average of 0.17, meaning pupils here make nearly a grade more progress per subject than their peers nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 60.3, and 83.5 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 72.8 per cent reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 5.6, and 55.3 per cent of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2013, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed that the school remains Good, and the previous inspection in 2008 also rated it Good, so the school has held a consistent standard over time.
The school is well equipped with facilities including science labs, a library, a theatre, art studios, a sports hall, gymnasium, tennis courts, and playing fields, and it offers a wide range of sports from rugby and hockey to martial arts and swimming. Clubs cover drama, eco club, choir, gardening, film club, Young Enterprise, and science club. Sawston also provides support for a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, hearing and visual impairments, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 15.7 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a mixed catchment. It is a strong choice for families who want high academic progress in a non-selective, co-educational setting, particularly those who are happy with a school that finishes at 16 and don't need a sixth form on site.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | New Road, Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, CB22 3BP |
| Headteacher | Jonathan Russell |
| Local Authority | Cambridgeshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,194 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,194 / 1,140 (105% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 May 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 26 Nov 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.87)
143rd of 3,141
Nationally
16th of 350
In East of England
1st of 10
In South Cambridgeshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
2022/239%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 197 pupils).
- Sixth form college66%
- FE college16%
- School sixth form (stay)9%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship1%
96% 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed232
389
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
261 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:05
Source: sawstonvc.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British67.3%
- White (other)11.1%
- Asian10.5%
- Mixed7.3%
- 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.
Half 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.
4
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Sawston 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
New Road, Cambridge
South Cambridgeshire, CB22 3BP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Sawston Village College!
Write a Review