Clarkson Infants School
Clarkson Infants School is a community school in Wisbech for pupils aged 2 to 7. It has 187 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Clarkson Infants School is Good, from an inspection in April 2022.
Ofsted inspection: April 2022.
| Type | Primary / Community school |
| Age Range | 2-7 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Trafford Road Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE13 2ES |
| Reference Number | 110649 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 187 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 50.27%
Girls: 49.73% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 29.1% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 27.8% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 27.2 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 28.4 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35 | 22 | 57 |
| 2 | 23 | 26 | 49 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 63.6% |
| White, Other | 22.5% |
| Indian | 2.1% |
| African | 2.1% |
| White & Asian | 1.1% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.1% |
| Chinese | 0.5% |
| Mixed, Other | 0.5% |
| Asian, Other | 0.5% |
Clarkson Infants School is performing well, achieving a 'Good' rating in the latest Ofsted inspection. The school is described as friendly and engaging, with pupils expressing enjoyment in learning and feeling safe thanks to supportive teachers. Over recent years, following significant challenges, the school has made notable progress, particularly since the current headteacher took over in January 2020. The curriculum is well-organized, and pupils are making strong academic gains, particularly in early reading skills. However, some pupils still struggle with writing and overall attainment, as they enter the school with skills below the expected level.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Early Years Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 23 Feb 2022 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 23 Feb 2022 | School inspection: |
| 09 Mar 2016 | Full inspection: |
| 25 Feb 2014 | Monitoring visit |
| 22 Oct 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 12 Jan 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 19 Nov 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Nov 2005 | Full inspection: |
| 03 Apr 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Supportive and caring environment where pupils feel safe.
- Strong progress in pupils' learning, especially in early reading.
- Well-structured curriculum that meets pupils' needs.
- Effective provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
- Promotes healthy lifestyles and personal development.
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils do not attain as well as they should, particularly in writing.
- A small group of pupils are persistently absent, affecting their learning.
Reception admissions, 2026 entry
Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 17 | 2 |
| Third Preference | 5 | 2 |
| From another Local Authority | 5 | 5 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Clarkson Infants School had 168 pupils for 180 places. 12 places (6.7%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “Wisbech Town 1 Primary” planning area
Cambridgeshire counted 275 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 270 in 2029–30, down 2%.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Places | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 210 | 270 | 270 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Pupils | 171 | 180 | 179 | 176 | 190 | 202 | 239 | 221 | 198 | 169 | 173 | 175 | 167 | 163 | 168 |
| Unfilled | 5.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 3.8% | 11.5% | 18.1% | 0.0% | 6.1% | 3.9% | 2.8% | 7.2% | 9.4% | 6.7% |
Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.
In 2024–25 pupils at Clarkson Infants School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 20.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 4.4% | 3.1% | 3.5% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 5.2% | 6.6% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Unauthorised absence | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 1.2% | 2.0% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.0% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.9% |
Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.
In 2024–25, 3.6% of pupils at Clarkson Infants School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 23.1 | 17.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.
In 2025–26 Clarkson Infants School had 19.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 21.5% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 16.0 | 11.3 | 9.9 | 11.1 | 11.2 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 12.4 | 11.3 | 9.1 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 8.9 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 14.3% | 0.0% | 11.1% | 22.2% | 22.2% | 16.7% | 8.8% | 27.2% | 30.8% | 30.8% | 5.8% | 17.5% | 0.0% | 10.5% | 10.8% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 28.6% | 62.5% | 25.0% | 54.5% | 50.0% | 61.5% | 46.2% | 58.3% | 62.5% | – | 50.0% | 90.0% | 60.0% | 20.0% | 40.0% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 15.3 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 6.6 | 14.3 | – | 8.6 | 7.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | – |
Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.
In 2025–26, 16.6% of pupils at Clarkson Infants School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Speech, language and communication needs | 17 | 0 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 3 | 6 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 9 | 0 |
| Physical disability | 1 | 0 |
| Vision impairment | 1 | 0 |
Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.
In 2025–26 Clarkson Infants School received £8,145 and spent £8,022 for each of its 176 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £262,000 (£1,489 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £222,000 | £192,000 | £254,000 | £179,000 | £252,000 | £261,000 | £240,000 | £262,000 |
| per pupil | £1,066 | £884 | £1,217 | £878 | £1,305 | £1,405 | £1,239 | £1,489 |
| In-year balance | £50,000 | -£30,000 | £63,000 | -£75,000 | £73,000 | £9,000 | -£21,000 | £22,000 |
| per pupil | £241 | -£138 | £299 | -£368 | £377 | £51 | -£109 | £124 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
St Peter's CofE Aided Junior School
Trafford Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2ES |
0.03 miles |
|
Orchards Church of England Academy
Cherry Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 3NP |
0.63 miles |
|
The Nene Infant & Nursery School
Norwich Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2AP |
0.64 miles |
|
Ramnoth Junior School
Ramnoth Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2JB |
0.66 miles |
|
Elm Road Primary School
Elm Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2TB |
0.82 miles |
|
Peckover Primary School
Leverington Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1PJ |
0.89 miles |
|
Leverington Primary Academy
104 Church Road, Leverington, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 5DE |
1.65 miles |
|
West Walton Community Primary School
School Road, West Walton, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 7HA |
1.9 miles |
|
Elm CofE Primary School
Main Road, Elm, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0AG |
2.28 miles |
|
Emneth Nursery School
Hollycroft Road, Wisbech, PE14 8AY |
2.6 miles |
|
Emneth Academy
Hollycroft Road, Emneth, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 8AY |
2.73 miles |
|
Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School
School Road, Marshland St James, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 8EY |
3.34 miles |
|
Gorefield Primary Academy
69 High Road, Gorefield, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 4NB |
3.36 miles |
|
Friday Bridge Community Primary School
Maltmas Drove, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0HW |
3.5 miles |
|
Walpole Highway Primary School
School Road, Walpole Highway, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 7QQ |
3.54 miles |
|
Wisbech St Mary CofE Academy
Church Road, Wisbech St Mary, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 4RJ |
3.56 miles |
|
Kinderley Primary School
Church Lane, Tydd St Giles, Church Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 5LG |
4.47 miles |
|
Terrington St John Primary School
School Road, Terrington St John, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 7SG |
4.69 miles |
|
Anthony Curton CofE Primary School
The Chase, Walpole St Peter, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 7NG |
4.77 miles |
|
Beaupre Community Primary School
Church Drove, Outwell, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 8RH |
4.99 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Cambian Wisbech School
Old Sessions House, 32 Somers Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1JF |
0.86 miles |
|
Meadowgate Academy
Meadowgate Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2JH |
0.9 miles |
|
Wisbech Grammar School
Wisbech Grammar School, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1RH |
1.02 miles |
|
Thomas Clarkson Academy
Corporation Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2SE |
1.09 miles |
|
On Track Education Wisbech
Enterprise House, Oldfield Lane, Cambridgeshire, Wisbech, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2RJ |
1.1 miles |
|
The Wisbech Academy
Weasenham Lane, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2RU |
1.25 miles |
|
Marshland High School
School Road, West Walton, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 7HA |
1.87 miles |
|
Walnut Tree School Ltd
Barra Farm, Gadds Lane, Leverington, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 5BL |
2.11 miles |
|
Begdale House School
Begdale Road, Elm, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0AZ |
2.61 miles |
|
Shelldene House School
Shelldene House, 20 Main Road, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0HJ |
3.31 miles |
|
The Old School House
1 March Road, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0HA |
3.46 miles |
|
Cambian Home Tree School
172 March Road, Friday Bridge, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE14 0LP |
3.95 miles |
All schools in Wisbech · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications
What is Clarkson Infants School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Clarkson Infants School is Good, from an inspection in April 2022.
When was Clarkson Infants School last inspected by Ofsted?
Clarkson Infants School was last inspected in April 2022.
How many pupils does Clarkson Infants School have?
Clarkson Infants School has 187 pupils on roll.
What age range does Clarkson Infants School cover?
Clarkson Infants School for pupils aged 2 to 7.
Where is Clarkson Infants School?
Clarkson Infants School is at Trafford Road, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 2ES.