St John's Church School, Spirit Federation

About St John's Church School, Spirit Federation

St John’s Church School, Spirit Federation, stands out sharply against the Peterborough primary average when it comes to Key Stage 2 outcomes. While the local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 59%, St John’s posts a striking 93% — a full 34 percentage points higher. That places the school third out of 53 primaries in Peterborough, putting it in the top five per cent of schools locally and in the top one per cent nationally. It’s a performance that sets it apart from most of its neighbours, and the gap is even more pronounced at the higher standard: 8% of pupils hit that top tier, compared with a local average that doesn’t reach double figures. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated it Good overall, with personal development judged Outstanding — a rare distinction that suggests the school is doing something meaningful beyond just exam results.

Digging into the 2023/24 SATs data, the strength is consistent across subjects. 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, 95% in maths and 93% in writing. At the higher level, reading leads the way with 57% of pupils achieving that benchmark, followed by maths at 37% and writing at 25%. Average scaled scores sit at 110 for reading and 109 for maths — comfortably above the national baseline of 100. The school’s ranking score of 93 reflects this consistency, and its national percentile of 0.95 means it outperforms 95% of all primary schools in England. Ofsted’s 2023 inspection gave top marks for personal development (Outstanding) and Good ratings for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision. Compared with its previous inspection in 2013, which was also Good, the school has maintained its standard while adding that Outstanding personal development grade.

St John’s is a large primary with 465 pupils on roll, close to its capacity of 480, and it’s clearly popular: for the 2025/26 intake, 67 families applied for 46 places, with 45 first-preference offers made. The school has a Church of England character and serves a diverse community — 35.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities include a sports hall, playing fields, forest school, sensory room and a chapel, with clubs ranging from gardening and coding to eco club. The school lists SEND provision for a wide range of needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. With nursery provision from age two and no sixth form, it’s a straightforward primary option for families who want strong academic outcomes in a school that also prioritises personal development and has a clear, supportive ethos.

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