Harston and Newton Primary School Review 2026: Small village primary with standout KS2 results and strong music

Harston and Newton Primary School is a small primary in the centre of Harston, serving local families since it opened in 1877. With around 117 pupils on roll and a published capacity of 125, it sits firmly in the “everyone knows everyone” bracket, while still offering a broad curriculum and varied clubs.

The most recent inspection (May 2023) describes pupils who are proud of their school, with happy schooldays and high expectations in class, including in mixed age teaching groups. A distinctive local feature is the school’s forest area, which plays a visible role in early years and wider enrichment. Since 01 January 2025, the school has been part of The CAM Academy Trust, a change that matters mainly in governance and policy alignment rather than day-to-day ethos.

This is a school that leans into village scale. The published capacity (125) and the way learning is organised in mixed age classes shape daily life, pupils tend to form friendships across year groups, and staff can track individuals closely. That structure can be a real advantage for quieter children who benefit from familiar routines and older role models, and it can also help confident pupils practise leadership early.

Values are explicit and simple. The school sets out Respect, Friendship, Caring, Learning, and Helpfulness, then links them to practical aims, including confidence, resilience, and a love of learning. Those themes are reinforced through house points, with houses listed as Wale, Greene, Pemberton, and Hurrell, which helps give a small school the feel of organised teams rather than a single cohort.

Leadership is led by the current headteacher, Mrs Siobhan Rouse. Pupils’ social relationships are presented as a strength, with low levels of bullying reported and clear confidence that adults will help resolve issues when they arise.

On outcomes, the numbers are hard to ignore. In 2024, 86% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 35% reached greater depth in reading, writing and maths, versus an England average of 8%. Reading and maths scaled scores were also high (110 and 109), alongside a grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled score of 111.

In the FindMySchool rankings based on official data, the school is ranked 518th in England for primary outcomes and 6th in the Cambridge local area. That places it well above England average overall, sitting in the top 10% of primary schools in England on this measure.

The implication for families is twofold. First, pupils who enjoy academic stretch should find plenty of pace and challenge. Second, because the school is small, outcomes can look “spiky” year to year, so it is worth checking how the school explains consistency across cohorts at open events, not just headline percentages. Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub and Comparison Tool to view results side by side.

Teaching is built around clarity and sequencing, which matters more than ever in mixed age classes. Leaders have designed a curriculum that sets out what pupils should learn in each subject in a sensible order, which helps teachers avoid repetition while still revisiting key ideas for depth. That design approach tends to work well for pupils who benefit from structured explanation and frequent checking of understanding.

The forest area supports curriculum intent in a practical way, especially for younger pupils learning confidence, communication, and safe risk-taking. In a small school, enrichment has to do real work, not just sit on the side. Here, outdoor learning provides a consistent second “classroom” that can strengthen writing stimulus, science observation, and personal development.

Oracy is also given explicit attention, with a stated emphasis on discussion and a language rich environment, including support for pupils whose early language acquisition is limited. For many families, that focus is a useful marker of teaching quality because it affects every subject, not only English.

For most families, the key question is secondary transition. Melbourn Village College lists Harston and Newton Community Primary School among its partner primary schools, which makes it a common pathway for Year 7.

Regardless of which secondary you prefer, Cambridgeshire applications are coordinated through the local authority. For parents thinking ahead to secondary transfer, the usual on time deadline is 31 October, with allocations viewable in early March for on time applicants (dates vary by year and route).

A practical implication of strong KS2 outcomes is that some pupils may also explore selective or independent routes in the wider Cambridge area. The school does not position itself as a “test prep” pipeline, but the attainment profile suggests pupils can be competitive when families choose that route.

Admissions are coordinated through Cambridgeshire, rather than directly with the school. For Reception entry, the school reports a typical pattern of applications opening in September and closing mid January, with offers communicated in spring. For the September 2026 intake, Cambridgeshire confirms that on time applicants receive offers on 16 April 2026, with later rounds following after that point.

Demand data suggests a competitive picture even at this small scale. In the latest recorded cycle there were 29 applications for 15 offers, which is about 1.93 applications per place, and the school is marked as oversubscribed. First preference demand was also slightly higher than the number of offers.

The school welcomes visits and encourages families to tour to judge fit in practice, which is sensible here because mixed age classes and small cohort dynamics are best understood in person. Parents can also use FindMySchool Map Search to understand the local geography around their home and shortlist realistically, especially in areas where primary places can be tight.

Safeguarding leadership is clearly signposted, with the headteacher listed as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, alongside named additional contacts. The most recent inspection evidence also supports a calm social culture, describing positive relationships and low bullying, with pupils confident that adults will help resolve problems.

Wraparound matters for working families. The school’s after school provision, Rainbow Club, runs in three sessions from 15:20 through to 18:00, which is a practical full afternoon of cover. Charges published for September 2025 onwards are £6.00 for one session, £12.00 for two sessions, or £15.00 for all three sessions. Breakfast club staffing is listed, but timings and pricing are not clearly published in the same place, so families should confirm details directly.

Enrichment is strongest where the school gets specific, and music is the clearest example. The school describes a broad music programme with live performance experiences (including ensembles such as Britten Sinfonia and the Grand Union Orchestra) and opportunities spanning ukulele, steel pans, recorder groups, and instrumental tuition across multiple instruments. The choir is named, Humming & Notes, and is presented as active beyond school performances. The implication is that children who enjoy performing, or who benefit from structured practice, can find a genuine pathway rather than occasional “one off” events.

Clubs are also listed in a practical, termly way rather than vague claims. Examples include Dodgeball Club, Music Ensemble, Choir, Ukuleles, Mini Athletics Club, Football Club, Dance Club, Cricket Club, and Netball Club. Sport is framed as a mix of staff and external provision, and the school lists activities including hockey and tag rugby alongside the core team sports. For many families, that blend offers choice without overloading a small school’s timetable.

The school day runs from 08:50 to 15:20, with an expectation that children arrive by 08:45 for a prompt start. Term dates are published for 2025 to 2026, which helps with childcare planning across INSET days and breaks.

Rainbow Club provides after school care through to 18:00. Breakfast club exists, but parents should confirm session times and availability directly, as these details are not consistently presented on the same page as staffing.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for usual extras such as uniform, trips, and optional clubs.

• Small school dynamics. With around 117 pupils on roll and mixed age classes described as part of the model, children will spend a lot of time with the same peers. That suits many, but some families prefer the anonymity and breadth of larger cohorts.

• Competition for places. The recorded admissions cycle shows oversubscription, at roughly 1.93 applications per place. This can make first choice planning uncertain, particularly for families moving into the area.

• Governance change. Joining The CAM Academy Trust on 01 January 2025 may bring policy and systems alignment. Parents who are sensitive to change may want to ask how trust membership affects curriculum, SEN processes, and staffing over time.

• Wraparound costs. After school care is structured and extended, but it is a paid service, with published charges from September 2025 onwards.

Harston and Newton Primary School combines village scale with outcomes that look far bigger than its size. Strong KS2 attainment and a clearly articulated approach to curriculum sequencing give it academic credibility, while music and clubs provide breadth that can be hard to deliver in a small setting. It best suits families who want a tight knit community feel, high expectations, and a genuine performing arts strand. The limiting factor is admission competitiveness rather than the educational offer.