Fordham CofE Primary School

Fordham CofE Primary has shown a good level of overall effectiveness, successfully continuing to foster a positive and nurturing environment for its pupils. With a long gap since its last inspection, the school has made commendable progress in terms of delivering education and ensuring the well-being of its students. Leadership is strong, and the staff are well-supported in their roles, contributing significantly to high morale and a solid learning atmosphere. Notably, the school community demonstrates values of faith and friendship, which are embraced by pupils, making the school a welcoming and safe place for learning.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a friendly and calm atmosphere.
• Leaders effectively evaluate and improve the curriculum.
• Teachers provide consistent support for pupil learning.
• Pupils are well-prepared for their educational steps.
• Strong relationships with staff, parents, and pupils exist.

Areas for Improvement

• Staff do not consistently follow guidance for supporting pupils with SEND.

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 Fordham CofE Primary School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.3% 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, 1.2% of pupils at Fordham CofE Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was 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 Fordham CofE Primary School had 20.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.7% 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, 18.4% of pupils at Fordham CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.9% 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 Fordham CofE Primary School received £6,451 and spent £6,738 for each of its 413 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £67,000 (£163 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 Ely · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

What is Fordham CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Fordham CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

When was Fordham CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Fordham CofE Primary School was last inspected in June 2023.

How many pupils does Fordham CofE Primary School have?

Fordham CofE Primary School has 413 pupils on roll.

What age range does Fordham CofE Primary School cover?

Fordham CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Fordham CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Fordham CofE Primary School?

Fordham CofE Primary School is at Isleham Road, Fordham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5NL.