Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School

Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School is a small primary school that has undergone significant improvement since its previous inspection. Leadership and governance are a particular strength: leaders have a clear and accurate view of the school, have introduced coherent systems and a well-structured curriculum, and have built a strong culture of staff development. Governors provide informed support and constructive challenge. Many leaders were new to their roles or not at the school at the time of the previous inspection. Safeguarding standards are met, and the rest of the school's provision is at the expected standard, with rapid improvements visible across many areas. Pupils achieve well overall. They benefit from an ambitious, inclusive curriculum, strong phonics and early reading, and effective support for those with SEND or disadvantage. Attendance has improved, persistent absence is below the national average, and pupils behave well; they are described as highly inclusive and positive about school. Early years provision is a strength, with children getting off to a strong start. Personal development is broad and coherent, and pupils feel safe and supported. The main areas for continued focus are writing and assessment. Teaching of writing is not yet consistently effective across the school, and teachers need to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge more reliably so they can adapt teaching. Key Stage 2 pupils did not previously experience the same curriculum quality, particularly in writing, and recent writing outcomes were below the national average in 2024/25, although the three-year picture is closer to average. Leaders are already taking action to address these points.

Strengths

• Purposeful and coherent leadership with an accurate understanding of school performance
• Rapid and effective improvements since the previous inspection
• Strong culture of professional development and consistent practice
• Governors provide informed support and constructive challenge
• A coherent, ambitious and inclusive curriculum
• Strong phonics and early reading, with results above the national average
• Pupils achieve well in reading and mathematics
• Effective targeted support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
• Attendance has improved and persistent absence is below the national average
• Pupils behave well and are highly inclusive and supportive of each other
• Calm, purposeful early years provision with a strong start in reading
• Broad personal development programme with pupil voice and enrichment opportunities
• Safeguarding standards are met through an open culture of safeguarding

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching of writing is not yet consistently effective across the school
• Teachers need to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge more reliably and adapt teaching accordingly
• Key Stage 2 pupils did not previously experience the same curriculum quality, particularly in writing
• Recent 2024/25 writing outcomes were below the national average

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 Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School attended 95.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

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, 0.0% of pupils at Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

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 Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School had 14.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 25.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

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, 12.5% of pupils at Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

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 Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School received £8,765 and spent £8,841 for each of its 96 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £34,000 (-£349 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Cambridge · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

What is Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School have?

Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School has 96 pupils on roll.

What age range does Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School cover?

Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 43% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School?

Coton Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School is at Whitwell Way, Coton, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23 7PW.