William Westley Church of England VC Primary School Review 2026: High-attaining village primary with a strong music thread

Purposeful learning, clear values, and strong Key Stage 2 outcomes sit at the centre of this Church of England village primary in Whittlesford. In the most recent Key Stage 2 measures available, 85.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%.

Leadership is stable and visible. Mr Andrew Westcott is the headteacher, and joined the school in January 2022. The latest inspection profile is also reassuring, with Behaviour and attitudes graded Outstanding and the other key areas graded Good at the October 2024 inspection.

For families weighing up fit, the headline is this: a values-led school with strong attainment and a well-developed culture of respect, plus a practical reality that demand can exceed places.

Let your light shine is more than a strapline here, it is used as the organising idea for school life and is explicitly connected to a Christian vision and a set of pupil-friendly values (positivity, kindness, respect, self-control, self-worth, celebration).

Daily routines reinforce this ethos. Collective worship is built into the timetable mid-morning, and the wider culture is anchored in expectations of manners, safety and responsibility. Pupils are described as polite and kind, with older pupils taking pride in looking after younger children, which matches the school’s emphasis on community and care.

The school’s origin story is unusually specific for a primary. William Westley’s 1723 will is presented as the founding act behind the school’s purpose, with the local charitable legacy still referenced as part of the school’s identity.

The outcomes data suggests a consistently strong Key Stage 2 picture.

In the latest published Key Stage 2 measures provided, 85.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, versus an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 25.67% achieved greater depth across reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%.

Subject indicators are also encouraging. Reading was particularly strong (93% reaching the expected standard), with maths also high (80% reaching the expected standard). Science sat at 83% meeting the expected standard, slightly above the England average of 82%.

On rankings, the school is ranked 2,857th in England and 33rd in Cambridge for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). That places it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for primary performance, which is a meaningful signal for families comparing local options.

Curriculum design is described as cumulative, with learning sequenced from Reception through Year 6 so that knowledge builds step by step. Staff subject knowledge is positioned as a strength, with clear explanations and modelling.

Early reading is a notable focus area. A newer phonics scheme is in place, staff training is emphasised, and pupils who struggle are supported to catch up through more individual help. Classrooms are described as being stocked with books that support reading across the curriculum, alongside reading for pleasure.

Where the school is still sharpening practice is challenge. Teaching is not always adapted to reflect the additional skills and knowledge some pupils bring, which can lead to work that is too easy in places. This is an important detail for families with high prior attainment children who need consistent stretch.

For most families, the “next step” conversation centres on secondary transfer rather than sixth form pathways, since this is a primary school (ages 4 to 11). The school explicitly frames Sawston Village College as the expected destination and highlights a close transition relationship so that Year 7 feels continuous rather than a hard reset.

For parents planning longer-term, it is worth treating this as a two-stage decision: first the primary experience, then a separate secondary choice. FindMySchool’s Local Hub comparison tools can help you see how nearby secondaries perform side by side before you commit to a single route.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated through Cambridgeshire, not directly by the school. The oversubscription criteria on the school’s published admissions information reference catchment, siblings, and then distance measured as a straight line for those outside catchment, with staff children also referenced within priority rules.

Demand is real in the most recent available application snapshot provided. There were 57 applications and 21 offers for the main entry route, which is about 2.71 applications per place.

For September 2026 Reception entry in Cambridgeshire, applications opened from 11 September 2025, the national closing date was 15 January 2026, and the national offer date is 16 April 2026. As of 27 January 2026, the 15 January deadline has passed, so families considering a later year should use the same seasonal pattern and confirm the current year’s dates via the local authority.

The school’s own front page signals that visits for Reception 2026 can be arranged via the office, which suggests tours are handled through individual bookings rather than fixed open day dates.

Behaviour is a genuine strength in the school’s current profile, and the broader safeguarding culture is presented as secure. The October 2024 inspection also confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is described as practical and classroom-based, with adaptations to tasks and resources, and additional adult support used to help pupils participate alongside peers.

Wraparound care exists, but families should check operational details early. A before and after-school club operates on site (externally managed), and the school also signposts Whittlesford Out of School Club as childcare for ages 4 to 11. The school website does not publish the full timetable or pricing for these services, so parents should confirm sessions and availability directly with the provider.

Music is not an afterthought here, it is structured into both enrichment and co-curricular participation. A snapshot clubs timetable includes Boomwhackers Music Club, recorder clubs (including a beginners’ group), and an Orchestra.

Sport is also organised with clear pathways for different ages, with examples including tag rugby, netball, girls’ football, boys’ football, and a multi-skills club. This breadth matters because it gives pupils different on-ramps, from confidence-building fundamentals to more competitive team sports.

There is also evidence of quieter, interest-led options. A gardening club is mentioned as part of the wider offer, which will appeal to pupils who prefer making and doing to competitive fixtures.

The school day runs from 8.50am to 3.20pm, with gates opening at 8.40am, and the weekly taught time is published as 32.5 hours. Collective worship is timetabled mid-morning.

For travel, Whittlesford Parkway is the local rail station for families combining school run patterns with commuting routes, and it has station facilities including parking. Walking and cycling will be practical for many village-based families, while car access can be more relevant for those coming from further afield.

• Competition for places. Recent demand data shows 57 applications for 21 offers on the main entry route, around 2.71 applications per place. If you are aiming for Reception entry, plan early and use FindMySchool’s Map Search tools to sanity-check your likely criteria position.

• Stretch for the highest attainers. Teaching is not always adapted to build on what some pupils already know and can do, which can leave parts of the work too easy at times. For academically advanced pupils, ask specifically how challenge is planned within mixed-ability lessons.

• Participation gaps. The school has strategies to increase disadvantaged pupils’ participation in clubs, but take-up is not consistently strong. If clubs are important for your child, ask how access, communication, and support are handled.

• Faith life is real and structured. This is a Church of England school with a clearly articulated Christian vision and collective worship embedded in daily routines. Families wanting a more secular experience should check whether this matches their expectations.

A values-led Church of England primary with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes and an unusually clear emphasis on music alongside sport. It suits families who want a calm, manners-driven culture, are comfortable with daily collective worship, and value strong attainment signals in a village setting. The main constraint is admissions competition, plus the need to confirm how consistently the most able pupils are stretched.