SchoolScoresWhatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Rectory Road, Whatfield, Ipswich, IP7 6QU
01473 823309 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 September 2023.
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 | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
22 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Ipswich comparisons use the 36 of its 62 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 26 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 | Ipswich | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 93% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 89% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 34 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 95% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 82% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 36 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ipswich. Higher than 90% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 89% | 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. Ipswich figures pool parents at the Ipswich 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
3 pupils in this year group.
Only 3 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
| Measure | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | Not published | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | Not published | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | Not published | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | Not published | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | Not published | 104 | 105 |
"Not published": Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
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 | 4 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 4 |
| Of those, offered a place | 4 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 14 |
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, 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Suffolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 28th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.1% | 23.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 22nd highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.4% | 14.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 48th highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 12.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 60th lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 2% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 8.7% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 53rd lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.4% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. 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 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. 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 62nd highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 1% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 9.3 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 62nd highest of 62 state primary schools in Ipswich. Higher than 1% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 4.9 | 10.4 | 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
- Beaumont Community Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kersey CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Elmsett CofE Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's CofE Primary School, Hadleigh 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bildeston Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hadleigh Community Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 September 2023.
How did Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School do in its SATs?
DfE didn't publish this figure for 2024/25. Not published: too few pupils, so individual pupils could be identified.
Would parents recommend Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
100% of the 22 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 4 families put Whatfield CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice for 4 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 4 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 124718.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.