Arbury Primary School Review 2026: High-expectation Cambridge primary with strong KS2 outcomes

Arbury Primary School sits in Arbury, Cambridge, serving pupils aged 5 to 11 and drawing heavily from local families. The school opened in January 1956, and the long-established premises remain part of its identity today.

The academic picture is a clear strength. In the most recent published Key Stage 2 results (2024), 79.3% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 31.7% achieved greater depth, well above the England average of 8%.

Leadership is stable, the headteacher is Mr Ben Tull. The latest Ofsted inspection (28 and 29 September 2023) confirmed that the school continues to be Good.

The school’s written ethos puts security, stimulation, and high standards front and centre, with an emphasis on celebrating achievement and teaching good behaviour through the Golden Rules. That tends to translate into a purposeful feel, where expectations are made explicit rather than left to chance.

The community-facing side is also well signposted. The school’s materials repeatedly reference inclusion, equality, and practical partnership with parents and carers, including clear routines for transition into Reception and for day-to-day communication.

There is also a sense of continuity. The school archives describe the opening day in January 1956 and frame the site as something that has evolved with the neighbourhood. For families who value a school that feels rooted in its local patch, that history matters.

Arbury’s headline Key Stage 2 outcomes stand out. In 2024, 79.3% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, versus an England average of 62%. Science was also strong, with 84% meeting the expected standard compared with 82% across England.

The scaled scores reinforce the same story. Reading averaged 108, mathematics 107, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 108, all signalling performance above typical national benchmarks.

Rankings provide another way to interpret the results. Ranked 2,494th in England and 25th in Cambridge for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), the school sits above England average overall and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

Early reading is a clear, structured priority. The school states that it uses Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised as its systematic synthetic phonics programme, with daily phonics teaching in Reception and Year 1 and three weekly reading practice sessions using matched decodable books. The practical implication for parents is a well-defined home learning rhythm, where children rehearse the same sounds and texts across school and home rather than juggling mixed approaches.

As pupils move up the school, the curriculum materials show a deliberate focus on sequencing and recall. For example, the history curriculum is framed around enquiry questions and supported by knowledge organisers, which helps pupils build vocabulary and chronology rather than treating topics as isolated projects.

A final point worth noting is the way learning is connected to experience. Formal reports describe trips, residentials, and visits to local museums and sites of interest as part of the wider programme, which can make academic content more memorable, particularly for pupils who learn best through concrete examples.

For most families, the key transition question is secondary school. Local authority information and local admissions context point to a defined catchment approach across much of Cambridgeshire, and the school sits within a Cambridge secondary ecosystem where distance and criteria matter.

Arbury is explicitly listed as a feeder primary within the catchment for Chesterton Community College, alongside a small group of nearby primaries. For families thinking long-term, that link is useful because it clarifies the most common secondary pathway for local pupils, even though individual outcomes will always depend on yearly admissions patterns and individual applications.

Beyond the default route, enrichment and responsibility roles also matter for transition readiness. The most recent inspection commentary highlights structured personal development and opportunities such as school council and eco-committee membership, plus reading ambassadors and sports leaders. Those experiences can help pupils arrive in Year 7 with confidence about speaking up, organising themselves, and taking ownership of school life.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Admission is managed through Cambridgeshire’s coordinated process rather than direct fee-paying entry. The school’s published admissions policy sets a planned admission number of 60 pupils each year and encourages parents to arrange a tour.

Demand is meaningful. For the Reception entry route, the latest available admissions figures show 91 applications and 48 offers, a ratio of about 1.9 applications for every place offered, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed. Practically, that means families should approach Reception entry as competitive and should read criteria carefully rather than assuming that proximity alone will be enough.

For September 2026 Reception entry (Cambridgeshire residents), the published local authority timeline states that applications opened on 11 September 2025 and the national closing date is 15 January 2026, with the national offer date on 16 April 2026.

A helpful planning approach is to use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check your home-to-school distance consistently (and to sanity-check walking routes). Even where criteria are clear, small geographic differences can matter in practice in oversubscribed years.

Pastoral work shows up in two practical ways. First, the school’s own documentation emphasises clear behaviour teaching through the Golden Rules and a consistent approach to relationships and pride in the school.

Second, the SEND framework is clearly signposted. The school names its SENDCo as Flora Griffin and links to current inclusion documentation and SEND information for families. For parents of children with additional needs, this kind of transparency is often as important as the provision itself because it makes it easier to understand processes, referrals, and who holds responsibility.

The school also communicates routines designed to reduce anxiety for younger pupils. Reception transition is described as active and relationship-based, including contact with early years settings and multiple stay-and-play opportunities, which can support children who need gradual familiarity.

Arbury’s enrichment model is not limited to generic after-school choices. A concrete example is music: the school has run a Year 5 Samba Band club, culminating in a performance, with the club described as an after-school offer run by a named staff member. For children who enjoy rhythm and ensemble work, this provides a structured route into performance without requiring private tuition as the only option.

Choir is another visible strand. The school website includes a Key Stage 1 choir, meeting weekly after school, designed around learning songs and singing games. For pupils who are shy in class but thrive in group activities, choir can be a low-pressure way to build confidence and belonging.

Leadership roles also broaden the offer. The inspection write-up lists school council, eco-committee membership, reading ambassadors, sports leaders, and monitors as routes for pupils to contribute to the community. The implication is that extracurricular life is not only about clubs, it is also about structured responsibility.

Facilities and day-to-day spaces matter too. The school references a forest area for younger pupils, with practical kit guidance that assumes regular outdoor learning, which can suit children who regulate better with movement and fresh air.

The core school day has been described in school communications as starting at 8.50am (with gates opening at 8.45am) and ending at 3.15pm for Years 1 to 6, with Reception collection shortly before.

Wraparound care is available. The school states that it offers breakfast club starting at 8.00am and an after-school club running until 5.30pm, with advance booking and payment required.

For travel, most families will be thinking in terms of short local journeys in the Arbury area. If driving, it is sensible to factor in peak-time congestion and local parking constraints around drop-off and pick-up; if walking or cycling, check the safest routes and crossing points in advance.

• Competitive Reception entry. With 91 applications and 48 offers recorded for the Reception route, admission pressure is real. Families should read criteria early and keep alternative local options in mind while applying.

• High expectations can feel demanding. Results indicate that pupils are expected to meet ambitious academic goals. This suits children who enjoy structured learning, but some may need additional reassurance if they are sensitive to performance pressure.

• Outdoor learning implies practical kit and routines. The school guidance references a forest area and outdoor clothing such as wellies and waterproofs. Families should expect regular outdoor sessions, including in wet weather.

Arbury Primary School combines a clear behaviour framework with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes, and it backs that up with a structured early reading programme. Admission is the main practical hurdle, and families should plan early.

Who it suits: local families in Cambridge who want a state primary with above-average results in England, explicit routines, and an approach that treats reading as a central pillar rather than an add-on.