In the first of our new Data-Driven series of stories, we compare the Ofsted results for secondary schools in East Cambridgeshire. You can also use our interactive map to check the school’s Ofsted report. 

As things stand, five of the six secondary schools inspected by Ofsted across East Cambridgeshire have achieved one of the top grades in their last inspection reports. 

Ely College, Witchford Village College, Soham Village College, Highfield Littleport Academy and Highfield Ely Academy all achieved the rating of ‘Good’ in their last inspection. 

One of the secondary school’s received an ‘Inadequate’ rating. 

Secondary schools all accept pupils aged between 11 and 16, or 11 and 18 and currently, 16.7 per cent of them across the UK as a whole are rated 'Outstanding', and 63.6 per cent are rated 'Good'. 

Take a look at our interactive map to see where the top-rated schools in the district are, and read below to find out what Ofsted had to say about them in their inspection reports. 

Ely College, Ely (Good) 

Ely College received a ‘Good’ rating in its last inspection on July 8, 2019. 

The school caters for pupils aged 11-18. 

The inspectors report said that the behaviors of students is “good” and they are “polite and courteous”. 

Staff were noted as sharing leaders’ ambitions for making the school as good as it can be. 

The inspectors report said: “The responses to Ofsted’s staff survey were highly supportive of leaders and recognise improvements that they have made.” 

Witchford Village College (Good) 

Witchford Village College received a ‘Good’ rating in its last full inspection on October 12, 2019 and following a school inspection in January this year, inspectors reported that the school continues to follow this rating. 

In the report, inspectors said the school is a “small school with big ambitions”. 

They added that pupils are “well prepared” for their next steps as they get a “wide range” of effective guidance and support. 

Staff were noted as supporting students well and they provide “nurturing environments” for them. 

Soham Village College (Good) 

Soham Village College received a ‘good’ rating in its last full inspection on January 19, 2017 and following a school inspection in May this year, inspectors reported that the school continues to follow this rating. 

In the report, inspectors said there is “enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged outstanding if we were to carry out a graded inspection now.” 

Inspectors state that pupils are “very proud” to attend the school and that they “work very hard to succeed.” 

The report added that leaders and staff are “ambitious for all pupils to succeed and support them to do so”. 

Highfield Littleport Academy (Good) 

Highfield Littleport Academy received a ‘Good’ rating in its last inspection in May last year. 

The school was inspected on March 22 and 23, 2022. 

In the report, inspectors state that pupils are “proud of their school” and that they “know they can approach staff with any worries they have”. 

The report added that there are a wide variety of experiences at the school to enhance pupils’ learning and for them to enjoy. 

“Leaders have implemented a typically well-considered curriculum and have taken into account what pupils need to know and be able to do to be successful when they leave school,” the report read. 

Highfield Ely Academy (Good) 

Highfield Ely Academy received a ‘Good’ rating during a short inspection from Ofsted in November 2018. 

In the report, inspectors stated that the leadership team has “maintained” the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. 

The school’s clear vision, drive and unwavering determination has earned them the respect of the governors and the trust, the report continued. 

It was also stated in the report that leaders know their school “extremely well”. 

Littleport and East Cambridgeshire Academy (Inadequate) 

Littleport and East Cambridgeshire Academy received an ‘Inadequate’ rating in its last inspection on June 17, 2022. 

The school was inspected on March 15 and 16 and was rated ‘Inadequate’ in every category apart from personal development which inspectors rated as ‘Requires Improvement’. 

In the report, the inspectors state that “pupils want to do well yet the school does not provide them with an acceptable education” and that “pupils get frustrated by leaders’ and teachers’ low expectations of what they can achieve and learn”. 

The report added that the school’s curriculum “limits what pupils can learn as well as their potential examination results”. 

The Harbour School in Wilburton had no Ofsted reports on the inspector's system at the time of writing this report.