Waterbeach Community Primary School

About Waterbeach Community Primary School

Waterbeach Community Primary School’s headline KS2 results sit slightly below the Cambridgeshire local authority average, with 56% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths compared to the LA average of 58%. That places the school 112th out of 210 primary schools in the county, putting it in the bottom half locally. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects: reading scores are a real strength, with an average scaled score of 107 and 79% of pupils hitting the expected standard, while 35% reached the higher standard — well above typical primary benchmarks. Maths is more mixed, with an average score of 103 and 65% at the expected level, but only 21% at the higher threshold. Writing lags a little, with 68% at expected and 19% at higher. So while the combined headline figure is a touch below the LA norm, Waterbeach is clearly doing strong work in reading, and the school’s overall Ofsted rating of Good, upgraded from Requires Improvement in its previous graded inspection, suggests solid leadership and management.

The school’s most recent graded inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour all judged Good. An ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 93% of the 104 respondents would recommend the school, and 94% strongly agree or agree that their child is happy and feels safe. On academic expectations, 84% of parents agree the school has high expectations, and 92% feel their child does well. The SEND support question is more nuanced — 77% agree or strongly agree that children with special needs get the support they need, but 18% disagree, which is a higher dissent rate than most other questions. The school has provisions for dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing impairment, and social, emotional and mental health, so it’s equipped to handle a range of needs, but the parent view suggests some families feel the support could go further.

Waterbeach is a large primary with 527 pupils against a capacity of 630, and it was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 85 applications for 78 places, with 76 first-preference offers made. That 1.09 oversubscription ratio indicates healthy local demand but not extreme competition. The school serves a mixed catchment, with 20.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, slightly above the national average. Facilities are generous for a primary: a library, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, a forest school, a sensory room, and even a chapel. Clubs include book club, eco club, art club, drama and film club, and sports provision covers football, tennis, cricket and swimming. This is a school that suits families who value a broad, active curriculum and strong pastoral care, particularly those whose children are strong readers or would benefit from the sensory and outdoor learning spaces. The reading results and parent satisfaction scores make it a solid, well-regarded local option, even if the overall KS2 combined figure sits just below the county average.

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