Milton Church of England Primary School Review 2026: Faith-led village primary with strong KS2 outcomes

A Church of England primary on the northern edge of Cambridge, this is a school where academic ambition sits alongside a clear values framework. The most recent published Key Stage 2 results (2024) are strong: 79% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with 62% across England. At the higher standard, 32% reached greater depth in reading, writing and maths, far above the England average of 8%.

Demand is real. Reception entry has a published admission number of 30, and the latest admissions snapshot shows 50 applications for 24 offers, a little over two applications per place. Families who want flexible childcare will notice the structured wraparound offer, including breakfast and after-school provision that runs up to 6pm.

Leadership and safeguarding are also important context. Mr Nathan Clark is the current headteacher.

The tone is shaped by its Church of England identity, without limiting the community to one background. The school describes itself as welcoming to children of all faiths and none, and it also highlights links with All Saints’ Church in Milton.

What stands out is the emphasis on shared language for behaviour and routines. In the latest inspection narrative, pupils are described as feeling safe, trusting adults with worries, and engaging positively with clear rules and whole-class rewards. The school uses named approaches and routines, including “Milton Manners” and a “123 Magic” behaviour structure, which helps pupils understand expectations in a consistent way across classes.

Pupil leadership is also part of the picture. Roles such as school council and eco-council are flagged, along with play leaders and older pupils reading with younger children. These opportunities matter in a primary setting because they build confidence through responsibility, not just through performance in lessons.

This is a school with results that comfortably exceed England averages, and the detail is encouraging rather than one-dimensional.

In 2024, 79.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, versus an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 32% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, compared with 8% across England. Science is also strong at 92% reaching the expected standard, above the England average of 82%. Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling both show an average scaled score of 108, with maths at 106.

Rankings add useful context for families comparing nearby schools. Ranked 2,805th in England and 32nd in Cambridge for primary outcomes, this places it above England average, within the top 25% of primary schools in England (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data).

How to interpret that as a parent: the higher standard figure is the headline. A third of pupils leaving Year 6 at greater depth typically means teaching is stretching the most confident learners, not only securing the basics.

Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and the Comparison Tool to place these results alongside other Cambridge primaries, using the same dataset and methodology.

A consistent curriculum matters most when it shows up in classrooms as purposeful lessons and secure routines. The latest inspection narrative highlights informative, enjoyable lessons, with pupils particularly engaged by literature and by the chance to revisit learning so that knowledge sticks.

Reading sits at the centre of the academic model, and the inspection description suggests two things parents care about: early fluency is prioritised, and pupils who struggle are supported with well-matched books and targeted help. This aligns with the scaled score profile at Key Stage 2, where reading is a strength.

The school also publishes unusually detailed curriculum thinking, including subject sequencing and chosen schemes. For example, computing and design and technology follow the Kapow scheme, and music is described as informed by the Model Music Curriculum, with an emphasis on learning through singing, listening, composing and performing rather than memorising disconnected facts.

One area to keep in mind is precision in checking understanding. The latest inspection report points to occasions where gaps in knowledge are not identified quickly enough, which can limit depth of learning. In practice, this is the difference between a pupil “getting by” in a topic and genuinely mastering it, especially in foundation subjects where misconceptions can linger.

As a primary school, the main transition is to Year 7. What matters is not only where pupils go, but also how predictable that pathway is for local families.

A useful clue comes from local secondary admissions rules. Impington Village College’s published admissions policy explicitly lists Milton C. of E. Academy among named primary schools used within its oversubscription criteria, which indicates that Milton is part of the feeder context considered by that secondary school.

In practical terms, families should still treat secondary transfer as address-dependent. Catchment areas and distance criteria vary by school and can change year to year, so the safest approach is to check your exact home address against the local authority’s catchment mapping tools well before Year 6.

Reception entry is coordinated through Cambridgeshire, and the school participates in the local authority process for Reception and in-year admissions. The school’s published admission number for Reception is 30.

Timings matter. For September 2026 Reception entry in Cambridgeshire, applications open from 11 September 2025, with a national closing date of 15 January 2026. National offer day is 16 April 2026.

Demand data suggests competition is meaningful. The latest admissions snapshot shows 50 applications for 24 offers, which equates to roughly 2.08 applications per place. If you are deciding between several local primaries, this is the point where FindMySchool Map Search becomes useful: it lets you understand your location relative to the school and, where available, compare that to historic offer patterns.

The school also welcomes visitors and suggests arranging a tour through the school office, which is helpful if you want to understand class structure, routines, and how the church ethos is lived day to day.

Pastoral strength in a primary is usually visible in three places: safeguarding culture, behaviour consistency, and how adults respond to worries.

The latest inspection report is clear on safeguarding, and it also describes pupils as trusting adults to help with concerns, supported by clear behaviour approaches and routines.

The school publishes named safeguarding leadership roles, and it describes an approach aligned to local safeguarding partnership procedures, including online safety education.

Support structures also show up in staffing: the “Who’s Who” listing includes a school play therapist and a family support worker, which signals attention to emotional needs and family liaison, not only academic interventions.

A strong primary offers breadth without exhausting pupils, and this school’s enrichment is specific rather than vague.

The latest inspection account lists clubs including chess, gymnastics, choir and dance. It also notes that football is popular for boys and girls, with Cambridge United coaches supporting lessons. Trips and residential experiences are also part of the offer, including curriculum-linked visits (for example, history topics) and London trips, which typically help pupils connect classroom knowledge to the wider world.

Music is given an additional platform through school events, including a named “Better Together 2024” concert showcase, which hints at a culture where performance and shared projects matter.

For families balancing work and school life, wraparound care is unusually detailed. Breakfast club runs from 7.30am until the start of school, and after-school provision runs until 6pm, with a walking bus transfer between the setting and school. Holiday provision is also described, including an 8am to 6pm full-day option and activities such as crafts, cooking and forest school.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

Wraparound care is a practical strength here: breakfast provision begins at 7.30am and after-school care runs to 6pm, with holiday options also described. The school publishes that the office is open 8.00am to 4.00pm on weekdays.

For travel, Milton has straightforward access to Cambridge via public transport, including Park and Ride services into the city centre. For rail, Cambridge North station is the most relevant nearby option for many families.

The school day start and finish times are not clearly stated on the main pages used for this review, so it is sensible to confirm the current timings directly when arranging a visit.

• Communication expectations. The latest inspection narrative notes that some parents want clearer information about how children are achieving and being supported. If frequent, detailed feedback matters to you, ask exactly what you will receive and how often.

• Depth checks in lessons. The inspection report describes occasions where gaps in knowledge are not addressed quickly enough. Most pupils will still do well, but pupils who need quick correction of misconceptions may rely on strong teacher feedback and responsive assessment.

• SEND target precision. For a small number of pupils with SEND, targets were not always broken into small enough steps in the inspection account. Parents of children with additional needs should ask to see how targets are set, reviewed, and communicated.

• Competition for places. Reception admissions are oversubscribed based on the latest demand snapshot. If you are set on this school, understand your alternative options early and use mapping tools to sense-check your position.

Milton Church of England Primary School combines a clear values framework with KS2 outcomes that exceed England averages, including an unusually strong higher standard profile. The offer is also practical, with structured wraparound care that will suit working families.

Who it suits: families seeking a faith-shaped primary that remains broadly inclusive, with strong core outcomes and a steady approach to behaviour and routines. The main hurdle is admission, so it works best for parents who plan early and keep realistic backup options.