Sawtry Junior Academy

About Sawtry Junior Academy

Sawtry Junior Academy is a state primary school in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, for children aged 7 to 11. It sits in the middle of the local league table for schools of its type, ranking 25th out of 55 in the Huntingdonshire area. The top-performing peers nearby include Histon and Impington Brook Primary School, Caldecote Primary School, and Abbots Ripton CofE Primary School, all of which score higher on the same ranking metric. Sawtry’s ranking score of 59 places it in the bottom 50% of its tier nationally, though it is worth noting that the school is oversubscribed — its current roll of 272 pupils exceeds its official capacity of 260. The school is led by headteacher Jonathan Callender and has no religious character. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, carried out in October 2019, it was rated Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards have been maintained.

Academically, Sawtry Junior Academy’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 show that 59% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits just above the local authority average of 58%. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 4%, and the school’s ranking score of 59 places it 102nd out of 210 primary schools across the whole of Cambridgeshire. In individual subjects, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths, while 64% did so in writing. Average scaled scores were 105 in reading and 103 in maths. The school does not publish progress scores for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to compare pupil progress against national averages. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 24.3%, which is above the national average and suggests a relatively high level of disadvantage among the intake.

The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, library, dining hall, sensory room, art studios and a chapel. Sports on offer include swimming, tennis, netball, cricket, rounders, cross country and football, while clubs include drama, coding, book club and choir. The school’s SEND provisions cover a broad spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, social and emotional mental health, visual impairment, physical disability, and specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Parent View responses from 44 parents between September 2024 and September 2025 show that 64% would recommend the school. However, responses were mixed: while 72% agreed or strongly agreed that their child feels safe, only 27% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 44% of parents with SEND children strongly disagreed that the school gives those children the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value a broad range of activities and a Good Ofsted rating, but prospective parents may want to probe SEND support and pastoral care more closely.

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