Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

Part of THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH ST BENET'S MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

Church Road, Garboldisham, Diss, IP22 2SE

01953 681327 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 7 November 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths58%England 62% · 2024/25
4th highest of 7 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 32% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils72Room for 105 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 112 in 2019, 98 in 2021, 89 in 2022, 74 in 2023, 73 in 2024, 79 in 2025, 72 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.05 for 5 places, September 2026
Joint 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 November 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Early yearsOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

44 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Diss comparisons use the 6 of its 13 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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.

StatementThis schoolDissEngland
My child is happy at this school
6th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Diss.
Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 92% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
6th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Diss.
Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 92% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Diss.
Higher than 31% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
86% 87% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 15 parents whose child had been bullied
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Diss.
Higher than 4% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
27% 40% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 34 parents who had raised a concern
5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Diss.
Higher than 7% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
59% 75% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
6th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Diss.
Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
61%said yes 84% 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. Diss figures pool parents at the Diss 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.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

12 pupils in this year group.

58% — 2 points above the Norfolk average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 58% 56% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 8% 5% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 58% 72% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 67% 66% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 75% 69% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 102 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 103 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 63%This school 2023/24: 58%This school 2024/25: 58% This school England 62% 2022/23 63% 2023/24 58% 2024/25 58%

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 Norfolk. 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 offered5
Families who put it first5
Of those, offered a place5 (100%)
Families who listed it at all16

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Norfolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolNorfolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 41% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.7% 23.9%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
4th highest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 65% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.8% 4.1%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.7% 15.3%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
10th highest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 11% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.3% 15.1%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
12th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Lower than 8% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.3% 5.3%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Lower than 21% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
17.6% 12.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 5.6 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 2.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.10% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
7th highest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 26% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
18.4 19.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 13 state primary schools in Diss.
Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.5 9.8 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 November 2023.

How did Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy?

61% of the 44 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 5 families put Garboldisham CofE Primary Academy as their first choice for 5 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 5 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.