Cambourne Village College

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The Principal and her team have been highly successful in developing a culture of high expectations. Academic success and education in its broadest sense are highly valued by the school community.

The vision of the Chief Executive and the school's founding trust has been matched by their deployment of appropriate expertise and leadership. This has resulted in a high level of effectiveness in leadership and in teaching from the outset for this school. The school's local board of governors is well-informed, appropriately trained and challenges both the school's leaders and the Trust rigorously.

Highly ambitious and capable middle l...eaders have been recruited to sustain the school's expansion, and they share the aspirations and expectations of senior leaders and governors. They are ensuring that achievement remains strong as the school expands. The progress of students is rapid and sustained, regardless of their prior attainment.

Most students are already working at levels that would be typical for their age, and a significant proportion are on track to exceed these standards. Disadvantaged students, those with disabilities and those who have special educational needs make rapid progress. Teaching is outstanding, and consistently effective.

Teachers see no barriers to rapid progress for any student and positive relationships encourage students to realise these high aspirations. The school library supports learning extremely well. The resulting improvement in students' research skills has an extremely positive impact across the curriculum.

Students' behaviour in lessons is exemplary. They are enthusiastic about their learning and work confidently without interruption. They are proud of their progress and this is clear in their contributions in the classroom, although occasionally less so in their written work.

Behaviour and safety around the school is outstanding. Students are polite and courteous, and understand how their excellent conduct impacts significantly on their learning. They take good care of the school's facilities.

Parents are overwhelmingly supportive of the school's work. Their appreciation of the school's academic work and its care for their children is unreservedly positive. The school aims to develop their engagement further through its work as a hub for adult education and the creative arts.

Information about this school

Cambourne Village College was opened as a free school in September 2013 by the Comberton Academy Trust. The school has students in Year 7 and Year 8. It is therefore smaller than most secondary schools at present.

The large majority of students are White British. The proportion of students whose first language is not English is slightly above average. The proportion of disabled students and those who have special educational needs is broadly average.

The proportion of students for whom the school receives the pupil premium is below average. This is additional government funding for students who are eligible for free school meals and those in local authority care. The Principal was Head of School from September 2013 and was recently appointed Principal.

She is supported by the Chief Executive of the Comberton Academy Trust, who is a national leader of education (NLE). The school does not utilise any additional off-site provision for its students. Students will first take external examinations in the summer of 2018.

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