Poplars Community Primary School
Lowestoft, NR32 4HN · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
91st 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 9.0/10 against 1,312 of them, against 7.6/10 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 | 79.0 · 86 | 40% | 3.43 |
| Ofsted | 3 | 35% | 0.10 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 25% | 1.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Poplars Community Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 79.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 9.0% of pupils, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in February 2024. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 260 pupils against a stated capacity of 598. 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 progress from the expected standard to the higher standard? What specific actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating from the 2024 inspection? How are the breakfast and after-school clubs structured to support daily routines?
What Ofsted said about Poplars Community Primary School
Overview
Poplars Community Primary School is described as an “improving school” where pupils are “happy and settled” and “ready and able to learn well.” The new leadership team is working at pace to address past weaknesses, particularly in curriculum consistency and reading fluency, though significant gaps in knowledge remain for some older pupils.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “good” behaviour, responding positively to clear expectations and valuing rewards for their conduct and learning.
- Personal development is “good,” with pupils learning to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy and staying safe online.
- Early years provision is “good,” with a well-planned curriculum that ensures children “achieve well” and are prepared for Year 1.
- Staff use “precise plans” to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, allowing them to access the curriculum successfully.
- Leaders have implemented a consistent behaviour policy that ensures learning proceeds “without disruption.”
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure older pupils who lack fluent reading skills are supported to “catch up quickly” so they can access the full curriculum.
- The school needs to ensure the wider curriculum is “implemented consistently over time across all subjects” to address gaps in knowledge.
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 | 30% |
| 2023/24 | 60% |
| 2024/25 | 79% |
| 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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