Melbourn Village College Review 2026: A Community School Navigating Rapid Change

Situated in the rural heart of South Cambridgeshire, Melbourn Village College serves as a vital educational hub for Melbourn, Meldreth, and the surrounding villages. As a member of the Cam Academy Trust since 2013, the college currently educates approximately 600 students aged 11 to 16. The school is currently in a period of intense transition following a significant decline in official ratings; however, recent evidence points to a school on a determined upward trajectory. With a new principal appointed in 2025 and an improved inspection profile as of mid 2025, the college is reestablishing its position as a community school that balances academic ambition with inclusive local values.

The college occupies a green, spacious site with a mix of established and modern facilities that reflect its long history in the village. The atmosphere is currently defined by a renewed sense of purpose. The school motto, Everybody is Somebody, is more than a plaque in the hallway; it serves as the guiding principle for a culture that seeks to be genuinely inclusive while demanding higher standards of conduct than in previous years.

Mrs Rachel Spencer took the helm as Principal in January 2025, bringing a fresh approach to a leadership team that has been significantly reshaped. Her appointment followed an interim period focused on stabilization. Under her leadership, the college has moved away from a period of instability, with students now describing themselves as proud of their school and delighted by recent improvements. The sense of community is tangible at the school gates, where a more orderly and respectful environment has replaced previous concerns.

Melbourn Village College achieves solid academic results that place it within the middle tier of secondary schools in England. In the most recent validated data, the school achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 40.7. This figure represents a respectable performance across a broad range of subjects, though it sits slightly below the broader Cambridgeshire average.

Ranked 3rd locally among secondary schools in the Royston area (FindMySchool ranking), the college ranks 2643rd in England for GCSE outcomes. This performance level sits within the national typical band, representing the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile). Within the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) pathway, 14.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above. While the Progress 8 score of -0.48 indicates that students have historically made less progress than the England average, the school's new curriculum strategies are specifically designed to reverse this trend.

The curriculum is broad and ambitious, designed to deepen understanding over time. A particular jewel in the college's academic crown is its participation in the Mandarin Excellence Programme. This intensive initiative allows a cohort of students to develop high levels of linguistic proficiency, often outperforming national expectations for language acquisition at this age.

Teachers are noted for their strong subject knowledge, particularly in well established departments where lessons are delivered with clarity. In the most effective classrooms, questioning is used skilfully to probe thinking and address misconceptions. While support for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has been identified as an area for further refinement, the school provides a specialist resourced provision, known as the Cabin, which supports students with autism. This facility allows students who might struggle in a purely mainstream setting to thrive within a supportive, tailored environment.

As an 11 to 16 college, Melbourn prepares students for a variety of post 16 pathways. The majority of students progress to the prestigious sixth form colleges in Cambridge, including Long Road and Hills Road, or to technical colleges for vocational study. The newly introduced MVC Futures Programme, launched for September 2025, has career related learning at its core.

The school supports this transition with a structured programme starting in Year 7. By Year 10, students receive one to one careers interviews and visit local sixth forms. This proactive approach ensures that despite the lack of an on-site sixth form, students are well equipped to secure places at competitive regional providers.

Admissions are coordinated by Cambridgeshire County Council. The school has a capacity of 740, but currently operates with approximately 585 students on roll, meaning places are generally available for those within the catchment area. In 2024, the school received 155 applications for its 140 Year 7 places, indicating it remains a popular choice despite recent challenges.

The catchment area includes the primary schools of Melbourn, Meldreth, Foxton, and Shepreth. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous intake patterns. Proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

Pastoral care has seen a significant overhaul. The school has worked hard to create an open and positive culture where pupils feel safe and supported. The recent 2025 Ofsted inspection recognized these efforts, awarding a Good rating for Behaviour and Attitudes, a major milestone in the school's recovery.

The college operates a house system including Darwin, Hawking, and Newton houses, which helps foster smaller communities within the school. While the school continues to refine its support for families through external agencies, the internal culture is one of high expectations, where derogatory language and poor behaviour are no longer tolerated.

The extracurricular offer is varied, with a strong emphasis on the arts and sport. Facilities include a 25m indoor swimming pool and a floodlit astroturf pitch, which are shared with the local community. The college is well known for its STEM initiatives, including participation in national robotics competitions and science fairs.

Students can engage in a range of clubs from the Dissection Society for aspiring medics to a vibrant music department that hosts regular concerts. The MVC Futures Programme also encourages community engagement, rewarding students for challenges completed outside the classroom, whether in sports, volunteering, or personal projects.

The school day begins at 8:40am and concludes at 3:10pm. For families requiring wraparound care, the college offers a range of after school clubs that typically run until 4:15pm, though specific breakfast club details are not currently published. Transport is a key consideration for this rural site; the local authority provides buses for eligible students from outlying villages, and many local students utilize the cycle paths that connect the college to the heart of Melbourn.

• Improvement Trajectory. While the school was rated Inadequate in 2023, the most recent inspection in May 2025 showed significant progress, with Behaviour and Attitudes now rated Good. The school is currently rated Requires Improvement overall as leadership continues to embed new systems.
• SEND Consistency. While the specialist autism provision (the Cabin) is a strength, support for SEND students within the broader mainstream curriculum is still being standardized across all departments.
• No On-site Sixth Form. Families must plan for a transition at age 16, which typically involves travel into Cambridge or Royston.
• Rural Catchment. Transport reliance is high for students living outside Melbourn village, which can impact participation in some after school activities.

Melbourn Village College is a school that has successfully navigated a period of crisis and is now firmly in its recovery phase. Under the new principal and the oversight of the Cam Academy Trust, it has regained control of its culture and behaviour standards. It suits local families seeking a true community school with a small, personal feel where academic ambition is supported by specialist programmes like Mandarin. While some areas of leadership and SEND support are still maturing, the rapid pace of improvement makes it an increasingly attractive option for those in the South Cambridgeshire area.