St Bede's Inter-Church School
104%
Capacity
938
Pupils
3.1x
Demand
About St Bede's Inter-Church School
St Bede's Inter-Church School is a state-funded Church of England/Roman Catholic secondary school serving the Cambridge community, welcoming children from age 11 to 16. The school has 938 pupils on roll and is near full capacity (104% of 903 places).
the school is led by headteacher Alistair Day, it falls under Cambridgeshire local authority.
In terms of academic performance, its Progress 8 score of +1.02 is well above the national average. Additionally, Attainment 8 is strong at 64.8. Additionally, placing it in the top 5% of schools nationally. Additionally, ranked 71st out of 3,141 schools in England. Additionally, 2nd out of 8 in Cambridge.
St Bede's Inter-Church School is a popular choice with families — it received 540 applications for 174 places, making it 3.1x oversubscribed. Of these, 281 were first-preference applications.
For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 9 areas, including Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health and 6 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.
On-site facilities at St Bede's Inter-Church School include Science Labs, Music Rooms, Art Studios, Library, Tennis Courts, Theatre, Sports Hall, Swimming Pool, Playing Fields, Dining Hall, ICT Suite, Astro Turf, Chapel.
Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Badminton, Rugby, Martial Arts, Cricket and 6 more, as well as clubs including Art Club, Choir, Eco Club, Gardening and 5 more.
The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 15.2%, which is below the national average for secondary schools in England.
For families exploring secondary schools in Cambridge, St Bede's Inter-Church School is one of the options available in the East of England region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England/Roman Catholic |
| Address | Birdwood Road, Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 3TD |
| Headteacher | Alistair Day |
| Local Authority | Cambridgeshire |
| Number of Pupils | 938 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.2% |
| School Capacity | 938 / 903 (104% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 1 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.02)
71st of 3,141
Nationally
8th of 350
In East of England
2nd of 8
In Cambridge
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
2022/238%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 178 pupils).
- Sixth form college78%
- School sixth form (stay)8%
- FE college8%
- Employment2%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
98% 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed174
540
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
281 families put this school as their 1st choice (52% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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 British42.0%
- White (other)22.4%
- Asian15.8%
- Mixed10.6%
- Black0.9%
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.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
9
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Bede's Inter-Church School
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
Birdwood Road, Cambridge
Cambridge, CB1 3TD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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