Arbury Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed

Carlton Way, Arbury Primary School, Cambridge, CB4 2DE

01223 359568 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 19 March 2014; confirmed 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths66%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 37th highest of 76 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 52% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils380Room for 420 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 394 in 2019, 393 in 2021, 387 in 2022, 371 in 2023, 384 in 2024, 381 in 2025, 380 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.730 for 42 places, September 2026
74th highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 3% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 March 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 29 September 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Cambridge comparisons use the 41 of its 78 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 37 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolCambridgeEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridge.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 94% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 4th highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridge.
Higher than 76% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99% 94% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 12th highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridge.
Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 88% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied
9th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridge.
Higher than 67% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
62% 54% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 42 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 7th highest of 39 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridge.
Higher than 72% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
90% 82% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 7th highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridge.
Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97%said yes 91% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Cambridge figures pool parents at the Cambridge schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

58 pupils in this year group.

66% — 7 points above the Cambridgeshire average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 66% 59% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 3% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 86% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 71% 68% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 79% 72% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 68%This school 2023/24: 67%This school 2024/25: 66% This school England 62% 2022/23 68% 2023/24 67% 2024/25 66%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Cambridgeshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered42
Families who put it first30
Of those, offered a place30 (100%)
Families who listed it at all91

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Cambridgeshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
5th highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
42.5% 22.5%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
Joint 51st highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.6% 3.8%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
21st highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 65% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
16.5% 14.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 32nd highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
26.0% 18.9%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 69th lowest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Lower than 22% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.1% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
61st lowest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Lower than 35% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
14.3% 11.7%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 4.5 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.7% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 37th highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 40% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.8 20.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 29th highest of 78 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 57% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.1 10.1 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
43rd highest of 75 state primary schools in Cambridge.
Higher than 51% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
12.7% 15.9%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Arbury Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Arbury Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 March 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 29 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Arbury Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 66% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Arbury Primary School?

97% of the 69 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Arbury Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Arbury Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 30 families put Arbury Primary School as their first choice for 42 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 30 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.