SchoolScoresBentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Church Road, Bentley, Ipswich, IP9 2BT
01473 310253 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 March 2015.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 23 May 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Ipswich comparisons use the 36 of its 62 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 26 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 | Ipswich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 33rd highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 35th highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 34th highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 10% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied 16th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 59% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 23 parents who had raised a concern 29th highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 12% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 82% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 33rd highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 8% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Ipswich figures pool parents at the Ipswich 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
5 pupils in this year group.
Only 5 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | Not published | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | Not published | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | Not published | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 4 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 4 |
| Of those, offered a place | 4 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 25 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.5 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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 Joint 29th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.7% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 14th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 41st highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 14.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 60th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 48th lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 19% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 33rd lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 5.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 58th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 2% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 11.4 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 60th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 2% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 6.2 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- Tattingstone CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Capel St Mary CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brooklands Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stutton CofE Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Copdock Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2023 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 March 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 23 May 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Would parents recommend Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
69% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 4 families put Bentley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 4 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 4 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 124754.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.