Norton CEVC Primary School

Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England

School Close, Norton, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3LZ

01359 230520 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 3 December 2024
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths83%England 62% · 2024/25
1st highest of 34 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 91% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils203Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 199 in 2019, 208 in 2021, 210 in 2022, 209 in 2023, 206 in 2024, 205 in 2025, 203 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.616 for 25 places, September 2026
35th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 2% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 3 December 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.

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

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

84 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.

StatementThis schoolBury St EdmundsEngland
My child is happy at this school
12th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 35% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
93% 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
6th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 73% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 89% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 21 parents whose child had been bullied
4th highest of 18 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 78% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
67% 55% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 59 parents who had raised a concern
9th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 65% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 83% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 21 parents of children with SEND
3rd highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 45% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
71% 72% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 8th highest of 23 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95%said yes 90% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 41%). 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.

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Results

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

30 pupils in this year group.

83% — 24 points above the Suffolk average, and 21 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 83% 59% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 10% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 90% 73% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 87% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 83% 71% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 110 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 72%This school 2023/24: 63%This school 2024/25: 83% This school England 62% 2022/23 72% 2023/24 63% 2024/25 83%

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 offered25
Families who put it first16
Of those, offered a place16 (100%)
Families who listed it at all76

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.6

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Suffolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
32nd highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.2% 23.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
15th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 37% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.4% 3.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
13th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
18.5% 14.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 27th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.5% 12.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
16th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.7% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.7% 12.1%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
11th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Lower than 52% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.0 5.1 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
11th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Lower than 40% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.0% 1.9% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.08% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 15th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 51% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
20.7 19.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
8th highest of 36 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 68% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.8 10.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
10th highest of 33 state primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Higher than 58% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
15.0% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is Norton CEVC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 3 December 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Norton CEVC Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 21 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Norton CEVC Primary School?

95% of the 84 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Norton CEVC Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Norton CEVC Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put Norton CEVC Primary School as their first choice for 25 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 16 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.