A school this size, serving a wide Cambridgeshire catchment, succeeds or fails on clarity. St Ivo Academy leans into that reality, setting out explicit values, tight routines, and a curriculum designed to build knowledge in deliberate steps. It has served St Ives and surrounding villages since 1955, and remains one of the area’s major secondary choices, with capacity for 1,840 pupils.
Leadership has also been in motion. Jess Pearce is the current principal, joining in January 2026 after the end of Tony Meneaugh’s tenure. That handover matters for families looking at culture, consistency, and the trajectory over the next few years.
For many parents, the practical question is simple: will my child thrive in a school that puts structure front and centre, while still offering a genuine sixth form with refurbished facilities and clear post 16 pathways? This review is written to help you answer that.
St Ivo’s published values are unusually explicit, not just a headline list. Scholarship, Curiosity, Tenacity, Responsibility, and Respect are defined in plain language, with an emphasis on academic seriousness and respectful conduct across the community. The short, memorable ethos line used on the school website is “Work hard, be kind”, which provides a useful lens for day to day expectations.
That clarity shows up in the way the school describes its approach to behaviour. Expectations are set out as simple structures and routines, applied consistently. This tends to create calm lessons and predictable corridors, which can be a relief for students who like routine and a clear boundary between learning time and social time. It also means the culture can feel uncompromising for students who need more flexibility or who struggle with compliance before they have trust in the system.
The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary analysis based on official Ofsted and ISI inspection reports. It converts ratings into a standardised 1–10 scale for fair comparison across all schools in England.
Disclaimer: The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school’s inspection outcome.
The student experience is not presented as uniformly rosy, and that honesty is helpful. Official evidence indicates that many pupils describe “positive changes” and feel the school is a better place, while some older pupils disagree with all aspects of the direction of travel. That split is worth recognising, because it often maps onto how well individual students adapt to a more structured regime.
Student voice is channelled through formal routes such as a student council and a house representative system, with sixth formers positioned as role models through leadership roles.
On GCSE measures, St Ivo sits in a broadly solid position for England, with a local strength in the St Ives context. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 48.4 and its Progress 8 score is +0.14.
Ranked 1,294th in England and 1st in St Ives for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance aligns with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).
For curriculum breadth, the EBacc signals the balance of academic subjects taken. At St Ivo, 26.4% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in the EBacc measure, and the average EBacc APS is 4.54.
The practical implication for families is that GCSE performance is credible and improving, with the strongest fit for students who respond well to a structured approach, steady homework routines, and a curriculum planned to build knowledge cumulatively.
At A level, the picture is more challenging. The proportion of A* grades is 3.22%, and 34.41% of grades fall in the A* to B range. Against the England average of 47.2% at A* to B, this is below the national picture.
Ranked 1,950th in England and 1st in St Ives for A level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the sixth form sits below England average overall.
This does not mean individual students cannot do very well, but it does suggest that families should pay close attention to subject fit, teaching strength by department, and the student’s independent study habits, particularly if aiming for the most competitive degree courses.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
34.41%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
St Ivo presents itself as knowledge led and sequenced. The school describes subject specialists identifying the key knowledge students need, setting out what should be taught and when, so that learning builds in steps over time. This approach tends to suit students who like clarity, and it can reduce gaps for those who need more explicit instruction.
Reading is treated as a school wide priority, with a programme intended to widen pupils’ exposure to stories and texts, alongside targeted support for those who find reading difficult. The idea is straightforward: raise baseline literacy so that every subject becomes more accessible.
At Key Stage 4, the curriculum structure is explained clearly, with a core set of GCSEs plus option choices designed to keep pathways open. At Key Stage 5, the school states that A level teaching is typically delivered in ten lessons per subject per fortnight, with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) available for students seeking academic stretch beyond examined courses.
For sixth formers, the key learning message is that teaching expertise is valued, but independent study habits need to match the ambition of A level courses. Students who are self organising and steady will usually benefit most.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
FMS Inspection Score calculated by FindMySchool based on official inspection data.
St Ivo has a sixth form, and the picture of destinations should be read as “typical pathways” rather than a single definition of success. In the 2023/24 leavers cohort, 42% progressed to university, 39% went into employment, and 5% started apprenticeships.
For highly selective university routes, the Oxbridge figures indicate that the pipeline exists but is small. Across the measurement period, three students applied, one received an offer, and one secured an Oxbridge place (Cambridge).
The school also describes specific preparation support for competitive applications, including mock interviews with external specialists for students applying for highly competitive courses or apprenticeships, plus use of structured careers platforms and advisory partners.
The practical implication is that ambition is supported, but outcomes will depend heavily on the student’s organisation and drive, and on choosing subjects and pathways that match strengths.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 33.3%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
—
Offers
St Ivo is a state school with no tuition fees. Admission to Years 7 to 11 is coordinated through Cambridgeshire County Council rather than directly through the academy.
The published admission number (PAN) is 296. The school’s stated catchment includes Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey, Holywell, Needingworth, St Ives, and the dwellings on the Poultry Research Station at Houghton, with links to named primary schools that fall within catchment.
Demand is strong. In the most recently reported admissions round for Year 7, there were 291 applications for 225 offers, a ratio of 1.29 applications per place offered. This aligns with the school being oversubscribed, so families should approach admission as competitive, even if they live locally.
Deadlines matter. The school states that the application deadline is 31 October during Year 6, with offers released in early March, following the national timetable.
Open events follow a predictable pattern even when exact dates move year to year. For example, the school held a Year 6 open evening in September 2025, and a sixth form open evening in early October 2025. Families considering a future entry year should expect open events around September and October and check the school’s current listings.
Sixth form entry is through the MyChoice16 platform, with minimum subject grade requirements and an oversubscription process for specific subjects if demand exceeds capacity. The sixth form page also states an applications deadline of 12 January.
A useful planning tool here is FindMySchoolMap Search, particularly for families trying to weigh catchment proximity and realistic admission chances in an oversubscribed year.
Applications
291
Total received
Places Offered
225
Subscription Rate
1.3x
Apps per place
Pastoral quality in a large school often comes down to visibility and follow through. St Ivo highlights a high level of staff presence around the site, which is especially reassuring for younger students, and the culture emphasises polite, respectful conduct.
Attendance is treated as a key lever. The parent information hub sets a target of 96% attendance and explains escalation steps and expectations for punctuality. This is demanding, but it also signals that the school sees attendance as central to achievement rather than a peripheral issue.
The latest Ofsted inspection in April 2024 rated the school Good across every judgement area, including sixth form provision.
The inspection also confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.
One area to watch, particularly for families of students with additional needs, is the precision of SEND plans. Official evidence indicates that teachers often have detailed information, but the quality can vary in how specific it is about learning barriers and classroom adaptations. For some students, that variability can affect consistency of support across subjects.
St Ivo’s extracurricular picture splits into two parts: what is formally scheduled, and what is still developing.
The school publishes a termly updated clubs list. Recent examples include Girls Football for Years 7 to 8, GCSE Art and Textiles for Years 10 to 11, and A level Art for Years 12 to 13.
In the sixth form, enrichment is framed as a routine expectation rather than an optional extra, with examples such as Chess Club, Tennis Club, Debating, a Foreign Film Club, Italian language and culture, Japanese, Yoga, and Life Skills.
Facilities are a genuine differentiator. The school describes extensive on site resources, including a science department with 14 laboratories, specialist accommodation for art and technology including food technology rooms, a kiln and a photographic dark room, plus performing arts spaces including drama studios, dance studios and a music suite with practice rooms and a performance space. Sports facilities include a large sports hall, pitches, a gymnasium, and floodlit tennis and netball courts, with access to off site facilities such as a 3G pitch and an all weather hockey pitch at a nearby outdoor centre, plus a swimming pool at the leisure centre.
Sixth form facilities have been refreshed and given a distinct identity. The sixth form centre is described as The Keep, including a common room with pool tables, a quiet work area called the Understudy, two silent study rooms, and a sixth form only café, with typical opening hours stated as 8am to 5pm.
A realistic note is that official evidence has previously described the extracurricular and enrichment offer as limited, with an expectation that the programme becomes more coherent and accessible. That makes current provision and the direction of travel relevant discussion points for prospective families.
The parent information hub sets out a detailed school day structure for 2025/26. Morning welcome starts at 8.30am, with teaching running through Period 5 ending at 3.00pm, and a Period 6 extension to 3.55pm for specific groups such as Further Maths, interventions, or clubs.
Transport is addressed directly. The school notes that bus transport for Years 7 to 11 is arranged by the local authority for eligible students, and it also provides a late bus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays departing at 4.15pm, designed to support after school commitments.
For parents driving, the school advises against bringing cars on site and suggests using the nearby leisure centre car park for drop off to reduce congestion. Cycling is supported with racks on site, with clear safety expectations.
Competition for Year 7 places: The school is oversubscribed, with 291 applications for 225 offers in the latest reported round. Families should treat admission as competitive and have a realistic plan B.
Sixth form outcomes are a weak spot on the headline data: A level results sit below England average overall, and the FindMySchool ranking places the sixth form in the lower tier nationally. Students can still thrive, but subject choice and independent study habits become decisive.
Extracurricular breadth is still developing: Official evidence has previously highlighted a limited enrichment offer, so families who place high weight on clubs, trips, and broader experiences should probe what is currently running, who can access it, and how it is staffed.
The behaviour model will not suit every student: A consistent, rules led approach often benefits learning, but it can feel strict. If your child struggles with rigidity or needs flexibility to manage anxiety or attention, ask detailed questions about how staff respond in practice, not just in policy.
St Ivo Academy is best understood as a large, structured, values driven school that has worked hard to improve the day to day learning climate and make expectations explicit. GCSE performance is solid, locally strong within St Ives, and supported by a curriculum model designed to build knowledge in steps.
It suits students who respond well to clear routines, direct teaching, and an environment where behaviour expectations are consistently enforced. Families who want a highly academic sixth form pipeline, or who prioritise a broad, well established enrichment programme, should explore the current offer carefully and compare alternatives locally before committing.
St Ivo Academy was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection (April 2024), with Good judgements across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership, and sixth form. GCSE performance sits in line with the middle 35% of schools in England on FindMySchool’s ranking, and it ranks 1st locally within St Ives for GCSE outcomes.
Yes. The latest reported Year 7 entry data shows more applications than offers, indicating that demand exceeds available places. Families should apply on time and ensure they understand the local authority’s oversubscription rules.
The school describes a catchment that includes St Ives and surrounding villages including Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey, Holywell, and Needingworth, with links to specific local primary schools. Admissions for Years 7 to 11 are coordinated through Cambridgeshire County Council, and the school’s admissions policy explains how catchment and other criteria are applied.
On the latest available results, 34.41% of A level grades were in the A* to B range, below the England average of 47.2%. This suggests outcomes vary by subject and student profile, so prospective sixth formers should review entry requirements carefully and ask about support for independent study.
Yes. The school describes structured careers support, including preparation for competitive applications, mock interviews with external specialists, and guidance for apprenticeships and employment routes. In the 2023/24 leavers cohort, 42% progressed to university, 39% entered employment, and 5% started apprenticeships.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
