St Peter's School, Huntingdon Review 2026: A broad secondary with a defined KS3 programme and a compact sixth form

This is a large, non-selective secondary in Huntingdon serving students from 11 to 18, with places allocated through Cambridgeshire’s coordinated admissions for Year 7. Academic outcomes sit below England averages at both GCSE and A-level in the most recent published dataset, yet the wider picture is more textured than a single headline suggests. The curriculum intent is clear, behaviour has settled, and enrichment has been designed as a structured part of school life, not an afterthought. The sixth form is comparatively small and framed around employability alongside qualifications.

The latest Ofsted inspection (21 September and 21 October 2022, published 29 November 2022) confirmed the school remains Good.

A defining feature is the language the school uses to describe itself. “Learn, Aspire, Exceed” sits at the centre of the ethos and, crucially, it is also used as a framework for curriculum design and enrichment, rather than as a purely motivational strapline. For parents, that matters because it signals consistency across classroom routines, expectations, and the wider personal development offer.

Leadership is stable and clearly signposted publicly. Miss Emma Butler is listed as Principal on the school website and on the Department for Education’s establishment record. A trust document indicates she was appointed Head of School from 01 May 2023. In practical terms, this “internal progression” often correlates with continuity for staff and students, with change introduced through refinement rather than wholesale resets.

Pastoral systems are presented as a central organising principle, not a bolt-on. The senior leadership roles published on the website show safeguarding, behaviour, personal development, inclusion, and sixth form oversight as explicitly allocated responsibilities. That is relevant for families who want clarity on who leads what, and for students who benefit from predictable lines of support across key stages.

At GCSE, the most recent dataset reports:

• Attainment 8 score of 41.7, below the England average of 45.9.

• EBacc average point score of 3.62, below the England average of 4.08.

• Progress 8 of -0.16, indicating students make slightly below-average progress compared with similar prior attainment nationally (England).

In FindMySchool’s proprietary ranking based on official data, the school is ranked 2,820th in England for GCSE outcomes and 5th locally. This places it below England average overall, within the lower-performing band nationally (the bottom 40% of schools in England on this measure).

At A-level, the same dataset reports:

• A* at 0.85%, and A* to B at 27.12%.

• England averages sit at 23.6% for A* to A and 47.2% for A* to B, so outcomes here are below those benchmarks.

In FindMySchool’s proprietary ranking based on official data, the sixth form is ranked 2,236th in England and 5th locally for A-level outcomes, again within the lower-performing band.

What to do with these figures as a parent:

• They point to a school that is not currently “results-first” in the way a highly academic comprehensive can be. If your child is aiming for top-tier grades across a full EBacc suite, you should interrogate subject-by-subject support and option guidance carefully.

• They also do not preclude strong individual outcomes, especially for students who do best with consistent structures, targeted intervention, and a clear enrichment pathway. External evidence from Ofsted highlights subject knowledge, curriculum ambition, and a calmer climate, which are ingredients that can raise attainment over time.

The curriculum is presented with unusual granularity for a mainstream secondary. Department pages set out exam boards and lesson allocations in some subjects (for example, English at Key Stage 4 is described as five lessons per week, with entries for English Language and English Literature). This is useful for families because it makes expectations transparent and helps students understand the workload early.

A distinctive feature is the KS3 Learn, Aspire, Exceed (LAE) curriculum, explicitly described as an additional experience for Year 7 and Year 8 beyond core subjects. The value of that model, when executed well, is that it broadens “cultural capital” and practical skill development without relying on students opting in after school, which can be harder for those with caring responsibilities or transport constraints.

The school also signals a commitment to extension work through its Exceed curriculum materials, positioned as complex and challenging learning beyond the classroom. For students who like academic stretch but are not seeking an ultra-pressurised environment, this kind of structured extension can be a better fit than high-stakes setting everywhere.

The sixth form is framed as preparation for employment as well as grades, with enrichment described in practical terms such as fundraising, work experience, and trips. That emphasis aligns with the destination profile in the latest published cohort data (2023 to 2024): 37% progressed to university, 40% entered employment, and 3% began apprenticeships (cohort size 62). One student secured an Oxbridge place in the same measurement period, from nine applications and one offer.

How to interpret this:

• University progression is meaningful but not dominant, and a high employment percentage suggests the sixth form may suit students who want a structured route into work and training as well as higher education.

• Oxbridge is present but is not a defining pipeline. For highly academic students targeting Oxford or Cambridge, it is sensible to ask about subject availability, super-curricular support, and the scale of UCAS coaching.

Year 7 entry (September 2026)

Year 7 admissions are coordinated by Cambridgeshire Local Authority, not handled directly by the school for the main application process. The school’s published admissions policy for September 2026 states the closing date as 31 October 2025, with offers issued on 01 March 2026 (or the first working day after).

Cambridgeshire’s secondary admissions page for September 2026 reinforces the 31 October 2025 on-time deadline and sets out the authority’s process for allocations and late applications. For families who are new to the county, this is one of those cases where timing matters as much as preference order. If you are moving house, get the “proof of address” requirements clear early, and keep copies of everything.

The school’s published admission number is 277 for Year 7. Demand varies year to year, and distance offers are not published here so families should treat catchment assumptions cautiously and validate practical travel time.

Sixth form entry (Year 12)

For sixth form entry, the school sets a minimum entry threshold of at least five grade 4s (or equivalent) across a range of subjects, with additional subject-specific requirements for some A-level courses. The website provides an application route for external students, but does not publish a single universal deadline on the main admissions page, so families should work to the school’s stated guidance and confirm dates directly.

Open events and transition

The published calendar of parent and consultation events shows an Open Evening and Year 11 options evening in late September (25 September 2025), a pattern that typically repeats annually. For Year 6 to Year 7 transition, the school provides practical joining instructions, including a start time and the recommended student entry points to the site, which is helpful for anxious joiners and for travel planning.

Parents deciding between local options should use the FindMySchool Map Search to sense-check travel time from home at peak traffic. Even when the admissions route is local-authority coordinated, daily logistics can be the deciding factor for students.

Pastoral support is not described as a single office; it is structured through heads of year, a safeguarding lead, and explicit senior roles linked to behaviour, personal development, and inclusion. This matters for families because it suggests problems are meant to be resolved through a system rather than through ad hoc goodwill.

A major element of inclusion is The Cabin, a specialist provision within the wider SEND offer, designed to support students with autism through tailored curriculum and small-group teaching where appropriate. Importantly, entry to this kind of enhanced provision is described through statutory routes and reviews, which helps parents understand what is, and is not, possible without the right formal framework.

The school also publishes safeguarding policies and related documentation, signalling that statutory compliance and staff training are kept under active review.

Enrichment is explicitly positioned as broad and varied. The school’s enrichment page references activities across departments and describes a menu that ranges from Astronomy and Cookery to Gardening and Archery. That kind of breadth can be an advantage for students who are still discovering what they enjoy, particularly in Years 7 and 8 when confidence and belonging matter as much as grades.

There are also structured programmes that build character and responsibility. Duke of Edinburgh is clearly established, and Ofsted references both DofE and cadets, alongside wider clubs and after-school activity. For students, the practical implication is that the school offers recognised frameworks that develop evidence of commitment, teamwork, and leadership, all of which translate cleanly onto college applications and early CVs.

For families interested in creative arts, the curriculum pages show vocational and performance-related options with external workshop links in at least one area. Drama materials, for example, reference Unit 19: Acting Styles and workshops such as Frantic Assembly, which indicates a willingness to bring professional practice into students’ experience.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day is published with a warning bell at 08:25 and lessons starting at 08:30, with the final timetabled period ending at 15:00. Term dates are published in advance for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027, which helps families planning childcare and transport.

For travel, the school provides transition guidance that references walking and cycling access points and bike storage, with a named landmark near one of the entry routes. Families should still check real journey times at drop-off and pick-up, as Huntingdon traffic can vary sharply by day and season.

Wraparound care is not published as a standard “breakfast club and after-school club” offer in the material reviewed for this school phase. Parents who need formal supervised provision beyond the school day should confirm availability directly.

• Academic trajectory and fit. The most recent published GCSE and A-level measures sit below England averages, including an A-level A* to B rate of 27.12%. If your child is strongly academic, ask how top sets are challenged and how intervention is prioritised for exam groups.

• Sixth form scale. Ofsted recorded 128 students in the sixth form at the time of the 2022 inspection. A smaller sixth form can mean closer oversight, but it can also mean fewer subject combinations and a narrower social mix.

• Dates and process discipline. Year 7 applications for September 2026 have an on-time deadline of 31 October 2025 through Cambridgeshire, and late processes run separately. Families who miss deadlines reduce their control over outcomes, even when the school is a good personal fit.

• Enhanced SEND routes. The Cabin and wider SEND support are clearly defined, but enhanced provision is linked to formal processes. If you think your child may need this level of support, engage early with the school and the relevant statutory pathway rather than relying on informal assurances.

St Peter’s School, Huntingdon provides a broad secondary experience with a clearly signposted KS3 programme and a serious approach to inclusion and behaviour. It is not currently a “headline results” school on published measures, but it is a school with strong organisational clarity and a well-defined enrichment offer that gives many students a route to belonging and growth.

Best suited to families in Huntingdon and nearby villages who want a large comprehensive with structured personal development, a meaningful range of clubs, and a sixth form that talks openly about employability as well as higher education.