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Shirley Community Primary School

Cambridge, CB4 1TFPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Mar 2024
KS2 Results
44%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
45 1st-choice / 54 places
Ranking
#11,916
of 13,686 nationally

About Shirley Community Primary School

Shirley Community Primary School in Cambridge is a state primary for 344 pupils aged 4 to 11, operating well below its capacity of 420. That spare capacity is notable because the school is actually oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 81 applications for 54 places, with 45 first-preference offers made. The oversubscription ratio of 1.5 suggests strong local demand, even though the school isn't filling every seat. The pupil body is significantly more disadvantaged than the national average, with 43% of children eligible for free school meals. That figure is roughly three times the national primary average, which sits around 23-24%, and places Shirley among the higher-FSM schools in Cambridgeshire. The school is mixed, non-religious, and has no nursery provision. John Cattermole is the headteacher, and the school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2024, rated it Good overall, with Good across all categories including early years, behaviour, personal development, and leadership.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressNuffield Road, Cambridge, Cambridge, CB4 1TF
HeadteacherJohn Cattermole
Local AuthorityCambridgeshire
Number of Pupils344
Free School Meals (FSM)43.0%
School Capacity344 / 420 (82% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

6 Mar 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 24 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Art StudiosPlaying FieldsForest SchoolSensory RoomGymnasiumICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

SwimmingAthleticsCricketDanceGymnasticsRoundersNetball

Clubs & Activities

GardeningChessScience ClubChoirEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:30-08:55

After-school care

15:15-18:00

Source: shirley.cambs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Shirley Community Primary School

Shirley Community Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.