SchoolScoresHouldsworth Valley Primary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Part of UNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
Rowley Drive, Newmarket, CB8 0PU
01638 663214 · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 November 2019.
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 | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 January 2025: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Newmarket 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.
| Statement | This school | Newmarket | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newmarket. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newmarket. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newmarket. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newmarket. Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 66% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 44 parents who had raised a concern Joint 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newmarket. Higher than 52% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 84% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 16 parents of children with SEND 11th highest of 29 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Suffolk. Higher than 66% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Newmarket. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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. Newmarket figures pool parents at the Newmarket 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
55 pupils in this year group.
65% — 6 points above the Suffolk average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 67% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 71% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 47 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 43 |
| Of those, offered a place | 43 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 68 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 18 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Speech, language and communication needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.6% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.4% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 46% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.7% | 14.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 4th highest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.2% | 12.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Lower than 61% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.6% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.7 | 5.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 9th lowest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Lower than 43% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.9% | 1.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 10th highest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 26% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.4 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 9th highest of 13 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 55% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.0 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 11 state primary schools in Newmarket. Higher than 44% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Paddocks Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Louis Catholic Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fairstead House 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- All Saints CofE Primary School, Newmarket 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ditton Lodge Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 96% met expected standard (KS2)
- Laureate Community Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Exning Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2020, before conversion) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 November 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy?
92% of the 60 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 43 families put Houldsworth Valley Primary Academy as their first choice for 47 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 43 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 143861.
- 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.