Great Finborough Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Stowmarket, IP14 3AQ · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
178th 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.
Narrow the comparison to the 4,256 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6/10 among them, against 1.6/10 nationally. 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 | 50.0 · 19 | 40% | 0.76 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Great Finborough Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 50.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in January 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6 out of 10 among them, against 1.6 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 108 pupils against a stated capacity of 150. 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 to move from the expected standard to the higher standard in core subjects? What specific strategies are used to address the gap between current results and national medians? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while implementing these improvements?
What Ofsted said about Great Finborough Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Overview
Great Finborough Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is described as having a “positive, family feel” where pupils are “well looked after” and behave well. The report highlights that leaders have successfully addressed previous concerns, resulting in a well-planned curriculum and effective safeguarding arrangements.
Strengths
- Pupils are “polite and considerate” and “enjoy their schoolwork,” with bullying dealt with “robustly” on rare occasions.
- The curriculum is carefully planned with key “milestones” that help pupils remember what they learn and understand how subjects are interconnected.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are “well looked after” and make “good progress” through helpful adjustments.
- Reading is prioritised, with staff ensuring children learn letters and sounds and supporting those who find reading “tricky” to catch up.
- Governors and leaders have overseen “rapid, positive change” and hold leaders to account through updated training.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure all teachers teach the curriculum consistently well, as some do not use the “most appropriate teaching approach,” making learning more challenging.
- Leaders should ensure all curriculum leaders know how to, and do, successfully evaluate and improve their curriculum areas, as some lack a clear understanding of effectiveness.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are “effective,” with staff trained to identify risks, concerns reported promptly, and clear systems in place to manage allegations against adults.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 67% |
| 2023/24 | 47% |
| 2024/25 | 50% |
| 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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