Sawtry Village Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of MERIDIAN TRUST

Fen Lane, Sawtry, Huntingdon, PE28 5TQ

01487 830701 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 11 January 2018; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths48%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 60% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,101Room for 1,200 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 854 in 2019, 882 in 2021, 885 in 2022, 916 in 2023, 994 in 2024, 1,085 in 2025, 1,101 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1182 for 173 places, September 2026
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 69% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 January 2018.

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
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 15 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

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

Cambridgeshire comparisons use the 24 of its 38 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 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 schoolCambridgeshireEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 3rd highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridgeshire.
Higher than 86% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 76% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridgeshire.
Higher than 83% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 80% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 5th highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridgeshire.
Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 70% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 34 parents whose child had been bullied
12th highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridgeshire.
Higher than 34% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
44% 45% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 76 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 23 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridgeshire.
Higher than 90% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 65% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
3rd highest of 24 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Cambridgeshire.
Higher than 95% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96%said yes 71% 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. Cambridgeshire figures pool parents at the Cambridgeshire 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

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

159 pupils in this year group.

48% — 2 points below the Cambridgeshire average, and 2 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 48% 50% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 49.4 48.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.4 4.4 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 49%This school 2023/24: 46%This school 2024/25: 48% This school England 45% 2022/23 49% 2023/24 46% 2024/25 48%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

151 pupils in this year group.

95% — 2 points above the Cambridgeshire average, and 3 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 58%30%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 95% 93% 92%
School sixth form 58% 24% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 32% 13%
Further education college 30% 29% 37%
Apprenticeship 4% 3% 3%
Work 3% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%95%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

78 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Average A level grade C+ B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 22% 32% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 50% 60% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 33.8 37.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 32.8This school 2023/24: 33.0This school 2024/25: 33.8 This school England 35 2022/23 32.8 2023/24 33.0 2024/25 33.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

14 subjects, 173 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 29 0% 3% 19%
Business Studies:Single 27 0% 19% 16%
Art and Design (Fine Art) 15 33% 33% 38%
Mathematics 14 21% 43% 40%
Biology 12 0% 17% 27%
History 12 0% 8% 23%
Art and Design (Photography) 11 0% 27% 26%
Chemistry 11 0% 45% 30%
Geography 11 9% 27% 23%
English Literature 9 0% 0% 23%
Physics 9 11% 33% 31%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (3d Studies), Art and Design (Textiles), Physical Education / Sports Studies.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

79 students in this year group.

85% — 2 points above the Cambridgeshire average, and 6 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 85% 83% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 6% 7%
Work 39% 35% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
96%85%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

82 students in this year group.

65% — 3 points above the Cambridgeshire average, and 5 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolCambridgeshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 65% 62% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 9% 26% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
64%65%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered173
Families who put it first182
Of those, offered a place168 (92%)
Families who listed it at all275

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1

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
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.2% 23.3%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 71% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
4.0% 4.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 5% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.2% 11.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
5.1% 14.3%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.9% 8.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
19.0% 20.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Lower than 76% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
6.8 13.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Lower than 75% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
4.0% 5.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.06% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 81% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.4 16.9 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 70% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.7 11.8 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Huntingdon.
Higher than 36% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
11.2% 16.5%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Sawtry Village Academy's Ofsted rating?

Sawtry Village Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 January 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 15 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Sawtry Village Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 48% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Sawtry Village Academy?

96% of the 107 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Sawtry Village Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Sawtry Village Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 182 families put Sawtry Village Academy as their first choice for 173 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 168 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.