Southfields Primary School

About Southfields Primary School

Southfields Primary School sits in the middle of the pack in Peterborough, ranking 33rd out of 53 primary schools in the local authority. Its headline Key Stage 2 metric — the percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths — stands at 54%, which is five percentage points below the Peterborough average of 59%. That places the school in the bottom half nationally, in the 30th percentile. The gap is noticeable, but it’s not a huge gulf; the school is performing broadly in line with many of its local peers, just a little behind the LA norm. Where Southfields does show a clear strength is in the proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading: 31% achieved that level, which is a solid figure. Maths at the higher standard is lower, at 19%, and the combined higher standard across all three subjects drops to just 2%, reflecting a pattern where most pupils are meeting expectations rather than exceeding them.

Academically, the picture is one of steady, unflashy progress. The average scaled scores are 103 in maths and 104 in reading, both just above the national baseline of 100. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025 rated it Good across all areas, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development. That’s consistent with its previous inspection in 2019, which also awarded Good across the board. The parent view data, collected from 92 responses between September 2024 and September 2025, is overwhelmingly positive: 93% of parents would recommend the school, and 97% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy here. Strong majorities also feel their child is safe (98%) and that the school has high expectations (83%). The only area where parents express notable dissatisfaction is SEND support: 19% disagree that children with special educational needs get the help they need, though 81% agree or strongly agree.

Southfields is a large primary school with 551 pupils on roll, operating slightly below its capacity of 630. It is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 133 applications for 66 places, with 63 first-preference offers made. That’s a ratio of just over two applicants per place, so it’s competitive but not wildly so. The school has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 34.7%, and it offers a range of SEND provisions including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health, plus a resourced provision. Facilities include an ICT suite, sensory room, art studios and a chapel, and the sports offering covers swimming, cricket, gymnastics, tennis, football and athletics. Clubs include film, drama, coding and art. For families in Peterborough looking for a solid, well-regarded state primary with a strong sense of community and a good Ofsted record, Southfields is a sensible choice — just be aware that the academic outcomes sit slightly below the local average.

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