Howard Community Academy
Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
229th 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 — 0.6/10 against 1,585 of them, against 0.7/10 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 | 36.0 · 6 | 62% | 0.34 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 38% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Howard Community Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 36.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access swimming and Forest School, alongside an Artsmark Arts Award and a whole-school Art Day. A breakfast club is also provided.
Getting in
The published school roll is 210 pupils against a stated capacity of 315. 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 below the expected standard in core subjects? What specific activities are included in the Forest School sessions? How does the breakfast club integrate with the start of the school day?
What Ofsted said about Howard Community Academy
Overview
Howard Community Academy is a primary school where pupils are described as happy, safe, and eager to learn. The report highlights a highly ambitious curriculum that has improved significantly since the previous inspection, with a strong focus on the whole child’s development. Staff set high expectations, and pupils behave well, embodying values of ‘calm, safe, respect’.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ‘highly ambitious for all pupils’, with coherent planning and a creative focus that makes learning ‘exciting’ and memorable through real-world experiences.
- Personal development is ‘exemplary’, with pupils encouraged to be ‘kind, thoughtful and respectful’ and gaining strong knowledge of other cultures and religions.
- Early reading teaching has secured ‘notable improvements’, with teachers carefully matching books to pupils’ phonics knowledge to build confidence and fluency.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) ‘thrive’, as the school accurately identifies needs and embeds support quickly, allowing them to complete the same learning as peers.
- Leaders support staff well, considering workload and well-being, while the trust provides ‘appropriate levels of challenge and support’.
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, pupils lack sufficient routine opportunities to practise and master complex knowledge, limiting their achievement.
- Strategies for supporting pupils with weak language skills are not implemented consistently well across the curriculum.
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 | 24% |
| 2023/24 | 24% |
| 2024/25 | 36% |
| 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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