SchoolScoresBarrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Colethorpe Lane, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5AU
01284 810223 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
74 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Bury St Edmunds comparisons use the 23 of its 36 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bury St Edmunds | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 8th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 9th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 3rd highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied 16th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 20% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 55% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 52 parents who had raised a concern 10th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 83% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 12 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 88% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 72% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 11th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 36%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bury St Edmunds figures pool parents at the Bury St Edmunds schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
67% — 8 points above the Suffolk average, and 5 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 67% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Suffolk. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 26 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 22 |
| Of those, offered a place | 22 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 51 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 31st highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 19% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.6% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 20th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 32nd highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.7% | 14.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 30th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 12.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 97% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 90% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 16th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.9 | 5.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 21st lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Lower than 28% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 29th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 19% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.4 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 51% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.8 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 25th highest of 33 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Higher than 17% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 2.1% | 15.0%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Risby CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Barrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Barrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Barrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
92% of the 74 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Barrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Barrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 22 families put Barrow CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 26 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 22 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 124690.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.