Cambridge Street School Review 2026: Islamic Ethos, Small-School Setting, High Stakes on Compliance

A small independent boys’ school in Batley town centre, Cambridge Street School positions itself as an Islamic secondary setting with a broad curriculum and a strong focus on character. The site is described by the school as a former Kirklees college building, with modern classrooms, a science lab, and a large lecture hall, which helps explain how a relatively compact roll can still offer specialist spaces.

Leadership continuity is clear. Mr Suleman Collector is named as headteacher on the school website, and official listings also identify him as the current head. A 2018 inspection report states that he was appointed in September 2017, which matters because governance and compliance are now the defining questions for families to ask, rather than pure curriculum intent.

The most recent inspection picture is mixed. The latest Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) routine inspection (4 to 6 November 2025) reports that Standards for quality of education were met, but Standards relating to leadership and management and governance, pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing, and safeguarding were not met. For parents, that combination usually translates into a school where classroom practice may have strengths, but systems, record-keeping, and oversight need close scrutiny.

Cambridge Street School’s identity is explicit. The school describes itself as an independent Muslim boys high school and states that a strong Islamic ethos shapes school life, alongside values such as honesty, respect, tolerance, good manners, and kindness. At its best, this kind of clarity makes the day-to-day experience coherent for pupils because expectations are reinforced in lessons, behaviour norms, and wider routines. It also gives families a straightforward way to judge fit, especially those who want faith-informed pastoral framing but still expect a full National Curriculum offer.

The physical setting supports that “small but structured” feel. The school describes light and spacious classrooms equipped with modern technology, and it highlights specific spaces including a science lab and a lecture theatre. For many pupils, especially in a single-sex environment, the presence of specialist rooms can help subjects feel more distinct and purposeful, rather than a generalist classroom rotation. The lecture hall also hints at whole-year briefings, assemblies, or larger group teaching moments, which can be valuable when staffing is leaner.

The culture message from inspection evidence is more complicated. In September 2023, an ISI material change inspection (linked to the proposal to increase capacity and add sixth form) judged the relevant Standards in scope as met, including safeguarding. By November 2025, the routine inspection concluded that safeguarding Standards were not all met and that leadership and governance Standards were not met. That shift makes governance maturity a central question for parents, because it points to inconsistency in compliance routines over time rather than a single isolated issue.

For GCSE outcomes, the school is ranked 3,871st in England and 4th in Batley (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data). This places performance below England average.

The attainment picture in the available dataset reflects a low Attainment 8 score of 20.2, and a low EBacc average point score of 1.66, with 0% achieving grades 5 or above in the EBacc measure. These indicators tend to align with a curriculum and entry profile that does not prioritise the EBacc suite for most pupils, or where outcomes in those subjects are not yet translating into higher points scores.

For A-level outcomes, the school is ranked 2,619th in England and 2nd in Batley (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data). This sits in the lower-performing band in England.

A practical implication for families is that you should treat this as a school where you need to look beyond marketing statements and ask for clarity on pathways and outcomes by subject, especially if your child is aiming for a highly academic sixth form route. Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub pages to view results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, focusing on the schools serving your postcode and the specific outcome measures that matter to your child.

The curriculum intent is clearly set out on the school website. Cambridge Street School states that it provides a broad and balanced curriculum that fulfils National Curriculum requirements, listing core and foundation subjects including English, mathematics, science, geography, history, business, citizenship, art, information technology, physical education, religious education, and Islamic studies, alongside languages such as Arabic and Urdu.

This combination matters because it signals two parallel aims. First, pupils should be able to access mainstream GCSE pathways through the core subjects. Second, the school is explicitly building faith and language study into the weekly experience, which can be a strong fit for families who want those areas treated as central rather than optional.

From an inspection standpoint, there is an important nuance. The November 2025 ISI report states that Standards relating to the quality of education, training and recreation are met. In practical terms, parents can interpret this as evidence that the curriculum plan, teaching expectations, and basic delivery are sufficiently established to meet regulatory requirements. The same report, however, points to weaknesses in the wider system that sits around teaching, especially leadership oversight and safeguarding compliance.

The school’s public-facing materials emphasise aspiration and progression, including references to “higher education” in its results messaging, but the website does not publish a verified destinations breakdown such as Russell Group percentages, apprenticeship rates, or named university counts.

What can be evidenced is that careers and employability exposure is part of the wider programme. The school’s events coverage includes an Enterprise Day model, where students work in teams on product prototypes, create adverts and posters, and produce business plans. That kind of activity is most valuable when it is sustained across year groups, because it develops communication, teamwork, and presentation skills that help pupils whether they move into sixth form study, employment, or vocational routes.

For sixth form age, the school describes a collaboration with Wise Origin College and a programme intended to balance Islamic scholarly pathways (Alimiyyah or Hifz, described as optional) with accredited level 3 qualifications across employment sectors. For families considering post-16 here, the key due diligence step is to ask precisely which level 3 qualifications are offered, who validates them, what the timetable split looks like between the different strands, and what progression routes past students have actually taken.

Admissions are school-run rather than Local Authority coordinated. The school directs prospective families to register interest using its online registration route, after which the admissions team contacts applicants. The admissions policy states that pupils mainly enter in the first week in September in the academic year they turn eleven, but it also allows in-year entry where places are available.

Selection is not framed as grammar-style academic competition, but it is not automatic. The admissions policy states that applicants undertake an entry assessment test and a short interview, and that part of the assessment is designed to determine the candidate’s level of Islamic education, with reference to admission to Hifz or Aalim class routes. The policy also lists information and documentation it may request as part of the process, including prior school reporting and behavioural or incident concerns.

The school is not catchment-defined in the way state schools are, and the dataset does not include a “last distance offered” figure for this setting. If you are deciding between multiple schools with different admissions rules, FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature can help you track requirements, deadlines, and your shortlist in one place.

The school’s published values place a clear emphasis on respectful conduct and community responsibility, and its programme content regularly references behaviour expectations. The events programme also includes a dedicated Anti-Bullying Week, described as involving activities and pupil-led contributions, which indicates that the school treats behaviour culture as something to teach and rehearse, not simply enforce.

However, the most recent inspection evidence means pastoral questions cannot be treated as a formality. The November 2025 ISI report identifies unmet Standards relating to safeguarding and attendance, and it also states that Standards relating to pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing are not met. For parents, the right response is not panic, but structured scrutiny: ask how concerns are recorded, how patterns are monitored, how staff training is refreshed, how recruitment checks are logged, and what governance oversight looks like in practice.

Cambridge Street School’s enrichment is presented less as a menu of weekly clubs and more as a programme of trips, themed weeks, and structured events.

One clear strand is enterprise and applied teamwork. The school’s Enterprise Day model is designed around role allocation, group project management, and producing business artefacts such as adverts, posters, and business plans. The implication is that students practise collaboration under time constraints, which is often where communication skills either develop quickly or gaps become visible.

A second strand is cultural and civic experience. The school documents a Wembley trip to an England v Spain match, framed as a shared experience involving pupils, parents, and teachers. While a single trip does not define a programme, it signals an intent to build memorable, socially cohesive experiences beyond routine lessons.

Third, the school uses external speakers and safety education as part of its wider curriculum. The events coverage includes a fire safety talk delivered with a local fire service representative, which aligns with the idea that personal safety and civic responsibility are taught explicitly.

Facilities also shape enrichment. The school highlights a science lab and a large lecture hall as part of its building offer, which provides a platform for demonstrations, larger group teaching, and potentially guest talks or assemblies that feel more formal than a standard classroom setting.

This is an independent school, so fees apply. At the time of review, the school website does not clearly publish a 2025 to 2026 fee schedule in a dedicated, date-stamped format suitable for parent comparison. If fees and any discounts or bursary arrangements are central to your decision, request the current schedule directly from the school before assuming affordability.

The school is located in Batley town centre, in a building it describes as a former Kirklees college site, which can be relevant for transport planning and day-to-day logistics. The website does not clearly publish standard start and finish times in a single place, and it does not set out wraparound care arrangements for the secondary phase. Families should confirm the daily timetable, supervision at drop-off and pick-up, and any after-school arrangements during an admissions conversation.

Uniform purchasing is supported through the school’s online shop, which lists several items such as fleeces and thobes. Even where fees are modest by independent standards, uniform and trips can still be meaningful add-on costs, so it is worth requesting a full cost guide.

• Latest inspection compliance concerns. The November 2025 ISI routine inspection reports that leadership and governance Standards were not met and that safeguarding Standards were not all met. This is the first thing to explore in detail during your due diligence.

• Results profile is weak. GCSE ranking sits below England average, with low Attainment 8 and EBacc measures in the available data, which may not suit families prioritising a highly academic EBacc pathway.

• Sixth form needs careful clarification. The school promotes a sixth form pathway via collaboration with Wise Origin College and a mix of Islamic scholarly pursuits and accredited level 3 qualifications. Ask for precise qualification lists, timetables, and progression outcomes.

• Fees transparency for 2025 to 2026. If you need confirmed costs up front, you will likely need to request the latest schedule directly rather than relying on public web pages.

Cambridge Street School offers a clearly defined faith-informed environment, a mainstream subject mix, and a small-school setting that can suit families seeking an Islamic ethos alongside National Curriculum coverage. It best suits boys who respond well to structured expectations and families who want faith and character formation embedded in daily life. The deciding factor is governance confidence, because the latest ISI inspection highlights unmet Standards in leadership oversight and safeguarding, so families should probe systems and accountability as carefully as they probe curriculum.