SchoolScoresBlundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Church Road, Blundeston, Lowestoft, NR32 5AX
01502 730488 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 March 2016.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 February 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
58 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Lowestoft comparisons use the 9 of its 20 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 11 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 | Lowestoft | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. 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 4th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 88% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. Higher than 70% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 55% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 45 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. Higher than 76% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 82% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 18 parents of children with SEND 2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. Higher than 71% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 75% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lowestoft. Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 33%). 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. Lowestoft figures pool parents at the Lowestoft 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
29 pupils in this year group.
62% — 3 points above the Suffolk average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 72% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 72% | 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 | 21 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 18 |
| Of those, offered a place | 18 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 28 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
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 18th highest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.3% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 20th highest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.7% | 14.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 12.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Lower than 63% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.8% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 7th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.9 | 5.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 12th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 7th highest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 43% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.0 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 1st highest of 20 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 71% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.0 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 18 state primary schools in Lowestoft. Higher than 79% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 22.7% | 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
- Somerleyton Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- The Limes Primary Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gunton Primary Academy 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Corton CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woods Loke Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oulton Broad Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hopton CofE Primary Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Poplars Community Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Margaret's Primary Academy 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 51% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 March 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 February 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
95% of the 58 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put Blundeston CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 21 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 18 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 124751.
- 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.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.