Fen Ditton Primary School Review 2026: High-performing Cambridge primary with a strong music and outdoor learning thread

Forest school sessions, instrumental learning opportunities, and a pupil culture that takes pride in helping younger children are recurring themes in the school’s public narrative. Academic outcomes reinforce that picture. In the most recent published Key Stage 2 results, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, above the England average of 62%.

Fen Ditton Primary is also unusually strong at the higher standard, with 47% achieving greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, compared with 8% across England. On FindMySchool’s ranking (based on official data), it sits well above England average, placing it within the top 10% of primaries in England.

Leadership is organised on an executive model across two Anglian Learning schools. Mrs Emily Thompson is named as Executive Headteacher in current official listings and on the school website.

This is a school that foregrounds values and routines rather than slogans. The published values set is concise, Respect, Kindness, Courage, and Resilience, and it shows up again in how the school describes behaviour, rewards, and personal development.

A distinctive touch is the house structure. Pupils are split into houses named after scientific figures, Blackburn, Franklin, Hawking, and Darwin. House points are earned during the day and celebrated weekly, with a House Cup awarded each half term. It is an accessible way to build belonging, with just enough competition to keep it engaging for pupils who enjoy working towards shared goals.

The latest published inspection evidence also emphasises pupil confidence and safety. Pupils are described as enjoying learning, talking enthusiastically about reading, and valuing opportunities to learn musical instruments and to learn outdoors through forest school. The same evidence base points to a calm culture at playtimes, including older pupils supporting younger ones, with structured sports and equipment available.

Fen Ditton Primary’s Key Stage 2 profile is strong by England benchmarks, with particularly high attainment at the expected standard. In the most recent published data, 82.33% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling are standout areas, with 89% reaching the expected standard in each, and an average scaled score of 110 in both reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling. Mathematics is also strong, with a scaled score of 108 and 79% reaching the expected standard.

Depth is the other headline. 47.33% achieved the higher standard across reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with 8% across England. For many families, that translates into two practical implications. First, classes are likely to include a meaningful proportion of pupils who are ready for extended work and stretch. Second, homework and revision expectations may feel more purposeful in Year 5 and Year 6, because a larger share of pupils are working beyond the baseline.

Rankings reinforce the same picture. Ranked 846th in England and 8th in Cambridge for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits well above England average (top 10%). Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to review these results alongside nearby schools using the same methodology.

The curriculum materials available publicly suggest a structured approach, with clarity about how learning is sequenced and revisited. In mathematics, the school describes a mastery approach, using White Rose planning alongside National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics resources and Department for Education guidance. Daily lessons, small steps, and a deliberate focus on fluency, reasoning and problem-solving are positioned as core features, with vocabulary teaching highlighted as an access strategy for pupils who start school with a limited vocabulary or speak English as an additional language.

Music is treated as more than an occasional enrichment slot. The curriculum statement describes opportunities to perform, compose, and learn instruments, including free peripatetic instrumental teaching for the top three classes, and a deliberate effort to widen cultural experiences through live performances and projects such as samba and rock band work. That matters because it tends to raise participation beyond the small minority who would otherwise push for lessons outside school.

Early years and Key Stage 1 provision is framed around relationships, play-based activities, and skill building that prepares pupils for later phases. The published inspection evidence explicitly links early years strength with children developing the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in Key Stage 1.

For many families, Year 6 transition is a major decision point, particularly in Cambridge where admissions patterns can be complex. One clear anchor is Bottisham Village College, which publishes a catchment list of feeder primaries that includes Fen Ditton. For families who prefer a defined comprehensive pathway, that provides a plausible default route for many pupils, subject to the details of secondary admissions and family choices.

The school also signals an active approach to transition preparation. Its SEND information report describes an extensive transition programme in Year 6, with additional support for pupils who might find the process more challenging, including extra visits and liaison with receiving schools. While written through an inclusion lens, the underlying message is relevant more broadly, the school expects transition to be taught and practised, not left to chance.

Families considering secondary options beyond the default catchment route should expect Year 6 to include a steady flow of open evenings, taster days, and school-specific requirements. School communications for parents have referenced open evening dates at local secondaries in the past, which suggests the school treats this as a routine part of Year 6 guidance. Always check each secondary school’s current admissions page, because dates change year to year.

Reception entry is coordinated through the local authority, with the Trust acting as the admission authority for the school. The published admission number is 25 for Reception intake. Where applications exceed that number, published oversubscription criteria apply.

Demand is clearly present. In the most recent admissions dataset available here, the Reception entry route shows 30 applications for 10 offers, which equates to around three applications per place. The dataset also categorises the school as oversubscribed. The practical implication is that families should treat admission as competitive even if they live locally, and avoid relying on informal assumptions about places being available.

Deadlines matter. For the 2026 entry cycle, the school’s admission arrangements state a closing date of 15 January, with offers made on 16 April (or the next working day). The local authority also confirms that on-time applicants receive notifications on 16 April 2026, with late application processing dates published for May 2026.

There is no published last distance offered figure provided here, so families should avoid making property decisions based on anecdotal distances. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their exact home-to-gate distance and then sense-check it against the most recent admissions pattern published by the local authority or the school.

Pastoral support is described through a mix of culture, routines, and targeted inclusion work. The published inspection evidence emphasises that pupils feel safe and well cared for, and that pupils are confident that teachers will help with worries. It also references mindfulness and breathing exercises taught to help pupils feel calm, and a view that bullying is rare with adults acting quickly if it occurs.

Inclusion information provides additional detail on how support is organised. The SEND report describes reasonable adjustments, small-group and targeted intervention work, and communication systems with wraparound care providers where needed for pupils accessing breakfast and after-school provision. It also sets expectations about transition planning, including earlier work for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plans.

The school’s public materials indicate a strong enrichment mix, with a particular emphasis on music, performance, and structured physical activity. Music opportunities are repeatedly foregrounded, including instrumental learning and performance experiences. The curriculum statement references partnerships and live performance exposure, which tends to matter most for pupils who might not otherwise encounter those settings outside school.

Outdoor learning is another recognisable pillar. Forest school sessions are referenced in inspection evidence as something younger pupils enjoy, and the school also refers to a forest area in its facilities letting information. The combination suggests outdoor learning is not just a one-off event week, but a feature that can shape confidence, teamwork, and practical problem-solving, particularly for younger pupils who learn best through active experiences.

Pupil voice and oracy also appear actively cultivated. Recent school news items describe activities such as debating workshops and public speaking work, which is useful for pupils who need structured opportunities to practise being heard, especially ahead of Key Stage 2 presentations and the transition to secondary expectations.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for the usual associated costs such as uniform, trips, and optional clubs.

The school day information published by the school indicates an 8:50am start, with lessons underway from 9:00am, and a 3:30pm end for the phases shown. Wraparound care is available, with breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school provision until 6:00pm.

For travel planning, families should expect local-road access and a typical Cambridge pattern of congestion at peak hours. If you rely on a tight morning schedule, wraparound care can also function as a practical buffer.

• Competitive entry. The admissions dataset available here indicates oversubscription, with around three applications per place on the Reception route. Families should plan early and keep deadlines front of mind.

• High attainment profile. With a relatively large share of pupils achieving at the higher standard, Year 5 and Year 6 may feel academically focused for some children. That suits pupils who enjoy challenge, but it may not be every child’s preference.

• Executive leadership model. Leadership is structured across more than one school. For many families this brings consistency and shared expertise, but it is worth asking how day-to-day headship is organised on site, and who your first point of contact will be.

Fen Ditton Primary School combines clear evidence of strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with distinctive enrichment strengths in music and outdoor learning. It is best suited to families who want a values-led primary where academic expectations are high, and where children can access structured experiences beyond the classroom, particularly in performance, sport, and outdoor learning. Entry remains the key hurdle, so families should approach admissions with a plan rather than a hope.