Elmswell Community Primary School
Bury St Edmunds, IP30 9UE · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
51st of 232 primary schools in Suffolk we can score, 253 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 6.8/10 against 3,570 of them, against 6.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 76.0 · 80 | 40% | 3.19 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 5.0 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Elmswell Community Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 76.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 5.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2025. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (6.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 383 pupils against a stated capacity of 420. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils who are working towards the higher standard in maths? What specific trips are planned for the next academic year? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll?
What Ofsted said about Elmswell Community Primary School
Overview
Elmswell Community Primary School has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” The school fosters a community where pupils “feel safe and happy” and “enjoy learning” within a broad, ambitious curriculum. Staff demonstrate high expectations, resulting in pupils who “achieve well overall” and are polite and respectful.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “broad and ambitious,” with teachers using “strong subject knowledge” to teach effectively and develop pupils’ vocabulary.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “make strong progress” as staff adapt teaching to ensure they access the same curriculum as others.
- Reading is prioritised successfully; staff deliver phonics with confidence, and pupils “quickly become fluent and confident readers.”
- Older pupils develop confidence and resilience through responsibilities like house captains and residential visits, while staff workload is managed well.
- Governors provide “effective challenge and support,” and parents appreciate opportunities to engage with the school’s work.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must use assessment information more effectively across all subjects to identify knowledge gaps and ensure pupils build a “deep body of knowledge over time.”
- Pupils need more opportunities to practise transcription skills, such as letter formation and joining, to ensure written work meets the school’s high standards consistently.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 76% |
| 2023/24 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | 76% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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