SchoolScoresScarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Dereham Road, Scarning, Dereham, NR19 2PW
01362 692665 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 June 2014.
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 14 February 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
41 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Dereham comparisons use the 10 of its 16 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 6 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 | Dereham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dereham. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 89% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dereham. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dereham. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 81% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 29 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dereham. Higher than 93% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 73% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 1st highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Dereham. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98%said yes | 82% | 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. Dereham figures pool parents at the Dereham 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
58 pupils in this year group.
57% — about the same as the Norfolk average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 57% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 78% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 67% | 66% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 83% | 69% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 103 | 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 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 offered | 55 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 53 |
| Of those, offered a place | 53 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 100 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 10th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.8% | 23.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 9th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 4.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.1% | 15.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 6th highest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.4% | 15.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Lower than 55% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.5% | 12.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Lower than 47% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2 | 5.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 5th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 2.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 90% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.8 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 64% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.5 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 9 state primary schools in Dereham. Higher than 32% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.1% | 16.7%* | 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
- Dereham CofE Junior Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Dereham CofE Infant and Nursery Academy 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion)
- Grove House Infant and Nursery School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025
- King's Park Infant School, Dereham 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025
- Toftwood Infant School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Dereham, Toftwood Community Junior School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 28% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 June 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 14 February 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
98% of the 41 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 53 families put Scarning Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 55 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 53 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 121067.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 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.