Peterborough’s state schools trail 72% of towns in England on results
A strong pass in English and maths, grade 5 or better, went to 40% of Peterborough’s pupils, below both Cambridgeshire’s towns (52%) and towns in England (45%). 71 state-funded schools are located in Peterborough’s built-up area. Peterborough grades C for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #33 of 50 in Cambridgeshire. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Schools with more pupils on free school meals usually get lower results. At Winyates Primary School, 48% of pupils are on free school meals and 87% meet the expected standard; a typical school in England with that intake reaches 55%. Results and intake ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
School Grade
Peterborough grades C for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
Primary: reading, writing and maths at 11 (57% meet the standard)Better than 28% of towns in England
Secondary: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (44.5 and 40%)Better than 36% of towns in England
Each of Peterborough’s 46 primaries: % meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2023–25)
Each of Peterborough’s 12 secondaries: Attainment 8 (2025/26)
England’s average schoolPeterborough’s average school
The primary figure: 49 primaries in the town, 8,374 pupils in results over three years. The secondary figure: 12 secondaries in the town, 2,707 pupils in results. Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Map
Where Peterborough’s 71 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is Peterborough’s built-up area.
PrimarySecondarySpecial, nursery, 16–19Size: pupilsABCDNo letter
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.
Results and intake
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
Primaries: KS2 reading, writing and maths against free school meals
Secondaries: Attainment 8 against free school meals
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 9% at Nene Valley Primary School to 66% at Lime Academy Parnwell. Against schools with the same intake, Winyates Primary School does best: 87% with 48% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 55%. 19 of 46 primaries and 6 of 11 secondaries are above the line.
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
Getting a place
How school places work in Peterborough
Peterborough Council handles applications for every state school in Peterborough, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
Secondary (starting at 11)Apply by 31 October of Year 6. Offers on 1 March.
Primary (starting in Reception)Apply by 15 January before the September your child starts. Offers on 16 April.
Moving mid-yearApply to the council for an in-year place; it tells you which schools have room.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. 12 of Peterborough’s 63 mainstream schools have a religious character; some of them give priority by church attendance, so check each school’s rules. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 7 schools are at or over it.
Nene Park134%
West Town131%
Hampton Vale111%
The King's (The Cathedral)109%
Fulbridge incl. nursery104%
Newark Hill104%
Old Fletton incl. nursery103%
Hampton Hargate100%
All Saints'100%
Sacred Heart100%
Show all 62 schools
Jack Hunt99%
Nene Valley99%
The Beeches98%
Queen Katharine98%
Braybrook98%
Saint Michael97%
Ormiston Bushfield97%
St Thomas More97%
Bishop Creighton97%
Welland96%
Heritage Park96%
Longthorpe95%
Norwood95%
Oakdale95%
City of Peterborough95%
Hampton College94%
Hampton Lakes incl. nursery93%
Stanground92%
Werrington91%
St Augustine's90%
St John's Church incl. nursery90%
Orton Wistow90%
Lime Academy Abbotsmede incl. nursery89%
Dogsthorpe88%
Thomas Deacon88%
Hampton Gardens Secondary87%
Stanground St Johns87%
Dogsthorpe Infant87%
Southfields86%
Brewster Avenue Infant incl. nursery86%
Ken Stimpson84%
Highlees84%
Winyates83%
Manor Drive Secondary83%
St Botolph's82%
Welbourne82%
Nova82%
Woodston79%
William Law78%
Queen's Drive Infant77%
Ravensthorpe75%
Paston Ridings73%
Manor Drive incl. nursery72%
Leighton and Preschool incl. nursery71%
Lime Academy Watergall71%
Thorpe incl. nursery71%
Discovery70%
Gunthorpe incl. nursery69%
Lime Academy Parnwell68%
St John Henry Newman66%
Gladstone incl. nursery56%
Eyrescroft53%
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
The schools
71 state schools in Peterborough
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Letters of Peterborough’s schoolsA7B18C26D713 without a letter
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted
Ofsted report cards
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Outstanding 3Good 26Report card 6Requires improvement 4Ungraded inspection only 32
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 6 of Peterborough’s 71 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
Run by
Schools
Pupils
Their letters
Greenwood Academies TrustStanground, City of Peterborough, Newark Hill, Welland, Dogsthorpe, Bishop Creighton, Medeshamstede
7
3,982
B−C−BCDC+
Meridian TrustNene Park, Woodston, Greater Peterborough UTC, West Town, Orton Wistow, Nene Valley, NeneGate
Lime TrustLime Academy Abbotsmede, Lime Academy Watergall, Lime Academy Parnwell, Lime Academy Orton
4
1,160
C−C−D
St John the Baptist Catholic Multi Academy TrustSt Thomas More, Sacred Heart, St John Fisher
3
616
D−BC−
Soke Education TrustWerrington, Gunthorpe
2
672
B−D
Elliot Foundation Academies TrustHighlees, Eyrescroft
2
573
CC−
Grace SchoolsSt Botolph's, Stanground St Johns
2
529
C−C−
King's (the Cathedral) School, PeterboroughThe King's (The Cathedral)
1
1,256
A
Ormiston Academies TrustOrmiston Bushfield
1
1,212
B+
Peterborough Diocese Education TrustWilliam Law
1
493
C−
Act Multi Academy TrustSaint Michael
1
408
B−
Diamond Learning Partnership TrustBraybrook
1
206
C
Peterborough CouncilHampton Hargate, The Beeches, Southfields, St John's Church, Old Fletton, All Saints', St John Henry Newman, Oakdale, Paston Ridings, Leighton and Preschool, St Augustine's, Heltwate, Queen's Drive Infant, Marshfields, Heritage Park, Norwood, Winyates, Brewster Avenue Infant, Caverstede Nursery
19
6,231
A−B−C−A+B−B−BB+CC+CA−A−A+
After 16
Where Peterborough’s teenagers go at 16
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
11 of Peterborough’s 13 state secondaries have sixth forms: Hampton College, Hampton Gardens Secondary, Jack Hunt, Ken Stimpson, Nene Park, Ormiston Bushfield, Queen Katharine, St John Fisher, Stanground, The King's (The Cathedral) and Thomas Deacon. Inspire Education Group, a further-education college, is in the city.
Secondaries with a sixth form
11 of 13
state schools in Peterborough
Colleges within 12 miles
1
nearest: Inspire Education Group
Grammar schools in Peterborough
0
no selective state secondaries
Special needs
Special schools and alternative provision in Peterborough
Peterborough has 5 special schools (Heltwate, Lime Academy Orton, Marshfields, Medeshamstede and NeneGate: 751 pupils) and 1 alternative provision school, for pupils who can’t attend mainstream school for a time. A special-school place isn’t applied for like a mainstream one: for a child with an education, health and care plan (EHCP), Peterborough Council names the school in the plan, after asking the family’s preference. These schools have no letter, because their results don’t compare with mainstream schools’. Their cards ↑
Peterborough Council’s SEND Local Offer lists support beyond these schools.
Towns its size
32nd of 37 English towns and cities of 133,000 to 257,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns and cities either side of Peterborough, and the top and bottom of the group.
Yaxley 3 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.1 mi
C
54%
47.5
Newborough 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 4.4 mi
A+
73%
—
Glinton 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 4.4 mi
C
59%
42.3
Helpston 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 5.5 mi
B+
69%
44.6
Newborough has the best-graded schools nearby (A+). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
•
Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
•
Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In Peterborough: 5% (England’s average school: 8%).
•
Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
•
Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
•
Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
•
Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
•
Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
•
Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in Peterborough
Are schools in Peterborough good?
Peterborough’s state schools earn a C against schools across England: primary results beat 28% of towns in England; secondary results beat 36% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Peterborough council.
What is the best secondary school in Peterborough?
On 2025/26 GCSE results, The King's (The Cathedral) School: Attainment 8 of 60.9 and 70% with grade 5+ in English and maths, against 47.3 at the average school in England. Results are one measure; distance decides most places.
What is the best primary school in Peterborough?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, St John's Church School: 90% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do Peterborough secondary schools have sixth forms?
11 of 13 do.
How do I apply for a school place in Peterborough?
Through Peterborough Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in Peterborough are full?
7 of 62 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in Peterborough?
71 open state-funded schools are located in Peterborough’s built-up area: 53 primary, 13 secondary and 5 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
