Sir Robert Hitcham CofE Voluntary Aided School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

School Corner, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6PL

01728 860201 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 2 February 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths58%England 62% · 2024/25
8th highest of 15 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 32% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils169Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 202 in 2019, 181 in 2021, 184 in 2022, 164 in 2023, 160 in 2024, 170 in 2025, 169 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.017 for 17 places, September 2026
Joint 4th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 February 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 attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

We'll ask you to confirm. One email per change, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy.

Results

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

33 pupils in this year group.

58% — about the same as the Suffolk average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 58% 59% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 3% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 91% 73% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 58% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 79% 71% 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. 103 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 52%This school 2023/24: 60%This school 2024/25: 58% This school England 62% 2022/23 52% 2023/24 60% 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 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 offered17
Families who put it first17
Of those, offered a place17 (100%)
Families who listed it at all23

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.

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 Suffolk

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSuffolkEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
13th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
15.1% 23.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
13th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.2% 3.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
16th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.6% 14.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
13th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.2% 12.6%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 7th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 65% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.5% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 66% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
9.2% 12.1%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 5.1 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.9% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.08% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 68% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.1 19.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 18 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 73% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
12.1 10.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
13th highest of 16 state primary schools in Stowmarket.
Higher than 30% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
7.5% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is Sir Robert Hitcham CofE Voluntary Aided School's Ofsted rating?

Sir Robert Hitcham CofE Voluntary Aided School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 February 2023.

How did Sir Robert Hitcham CofE Voluntary Aided School 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%.

Is Sir Robert Hitcham CofE Voluntary Aided School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 17 families put Sir Robert Hitcham CofE Voluntary Aided School as their first choice for 17 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 17 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.