St Mary's Church of England Academy
Bury St Edmunds, IP28 7LR · Suffolk · primary school
Check the area around this school
230th 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 — 0.2/10 against 3,510 of them, against 0.6/10 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 | 31.0 · 3 | 40% | 0.13 |
| Ofsted | 3 | 35% | 0.10 |
| 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.
St Mary's Church of England Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 31.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. 0.0% reached the higher standard, 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 (0.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school requires improvement in July 2024.
Getting in
The published school roll is 414 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 plan to raise attainment from 31.0% to the national median of 64%? What specific actions are being taken to address the requires improvement rating from the 2024 inspection? How does the school support pupils in reaching the higher standard, currently at 0.0%?
What Ofsted said about St Mary's Church of England Academy
Overview
St Mary's Church of England Academy is a primary school that requires improvement in overall effectiveness and the quality of education. However, it has made significant improvements in behaviour and personal development, with pupils being happy and confident, and following the school rules.
Strengths
- Pupils are happy and confident, with a strong sense of safety and well-being.
- The school has made significant improvements in behaviour, with pupils following the school rules and receiving additional support to manage their emotions.
- Pupils have opportunities to pursue their interests, such as the eco-council, which has raised money for charity and promoted environmental responsibility.
- The school promotes pupils' personal development well, through opportunities such as the 'faith council' and the 'secret detective society'.
- The school has enabled pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities to access the curriculum effectively.
Areas to improve
- The school has not ensured that all pupils can read fluently enough, with younger pupils making too many mistakes with decoding and blending words.
- In some subjects, teachers do not routinely check what pupils know and then use this information to plan learning that builds on pupils' prior knowledge effectively.
- Trustees have not challenged with enough rigour and precision to have full awareness of the extent of the issues the school faced.
Safeguarding
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 | 47% |
| 2024/25 | 31% |
| 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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