The Martin Bacon Academy

The Martin Bacon Academy is a special school where all pupils have SEND and an EHC plan, and it is part of the Meridian Trust. This was its first section 5 inspection, and inspectors found a highly effective school with a calm, orderly culture and very high expectations. Staff use pupils’ individual strengths and interests to engage them, and tailored learning goals help pupils make exceptional progress from their starting points. The curriculum is well structured and clearly sequenced, with a strong focus on communication and reading. Pupils behave very well, benefit from trusting relationships with adults, and receive sensitive support when they need help to rejoin learning. Personal development is carefully designed to build independence, safety, careers awareness and preparation for the next stage, including through work experience and close links with a local secondary school. Leadership is highly ambitious, and leaders work effectively with the trust and local governors. Staff are involved in shaping development plans, and efforts to reduce workload have supported well-being. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school has also replicated its approach in a specialist resourced provision at another trust school. No areas of concern were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Calm and orderly school environment with high expectations and familiar routines
• Staff identify and celebrate pupils’ strengths and use them to make learning engaging
• Tailored curriculum and personal learning goals support exceptional progress
• Strong communication provision using visual boards, photos and sign language where needed
• Well-designed early reading and phonics provision customized to pupils’ needs
• Pupils behave very well and receive sensitive support to rejoin learning
• Personal development builds independence, safety, cooking and travel skills
• Exceptional preparation for pupils’ next stage, including bespoke careers work and work experience
• Highly ambitious leadership with effective trust and governor oversight
• Effective safeguarding arrangements
• Successful replication of the school’s approach in a specialist resourced provision

In 2024–25 pupils at The Martin Bacon Academy attended 91.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 26.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 1.5% of pupils at The Martin Bacon Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 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 The Martin Bacon Academy had 7.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 1.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 The Martin Bacon Academy had 152 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: moderate learning difficulty; severe learning difficulty; hearing impairment; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 The Martin Bacon Academy received £28,524 and spent £24,261 for each of its 136 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £774,000 (£5,695 per pupil).

Across all 36 schools of Meridian Trust, income was £7,921 and spending £7,857 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

The Martin Bacon Academy is part of Meridian Trust, which runs 36 schools. The nearest others:

• Northstowe Learning Community Cambridge
• Hatton Park Primary School Cambridge
• Histon and Impington Park Primary School Cambridge
• Histon and Impington Brook Primary School Cambridge
• Bar Hill Community Primary School Cambridge
• Swavesey Village College Cambridge
• North Cambridge Academy Cambridge
• The Harbour School Ely
• Somersham Primary School Somersham
• Trumpington Park Primary School Cambridge

What is The Martin Bacon Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Martin Bacon Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was The Martin Bacon Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Martin Bacon Academy was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does The Martin Bacon Academy have?

The Martin Bacon Academy has 152 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Martin Bacon Academy cover?

The Martin Bacon Academy for pupils aged 3 to 19.

What are The Martin Bacon Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is The Martin Bacon Academy?

The Martin Bacon Academy is at Stirling Road, Northstowe, Cambridgeshire, CB24 1DH.