Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #159 in Suffolk public Top 70% UK

Walsham-le-Willows Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Maxine McGarr

location_onBury St Edmunds, IP31 3BD

language Visit Website phone 1359259319

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

128

school

Expected Standard

56%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

Walsham-le-Willows Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a Voluntary controlled school primary school in Bury St Edmunds, serving ages 4-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 70% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Walsham-le-Willows Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a voluntary controlled school in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 126 pupils on roll, of whom 19% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 56% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 22% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #159 of 225 primaries in Suffolk and #11,382 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 18.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

56%

LA 57%

Reading72% LA 73%

Writing67% LA 68%

Maths61% LA 69%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

69%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading94% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing69% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths94% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

109

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading68% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing64% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths77% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

104

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA 0.0

-1.8 to 3.6

-1.1

Write

LA -0.4

-3.7 to 1.5

0.8

Maths

LA -0.6

-1.7 to 3.3

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading85% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths95% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.9

Read

LA -0.6

-1.9 to 3.7

0.9

Write

LA -0.7

-1.7 to 3.4

2.1

Maths

LA -1.1

-0.3 to 4.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 60%

Reading95% LA 73%

Writing80% LA 74%

Maths95% LA 71%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

113

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.3

Read

LA -0.4

-1.3 to 3.9

-3.1

Write

LA -0.5

-5.6 to -0.6

2.4

Maths

LA -1.0

0 to 4.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

28 March 2023

Inspection Report

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18 October 2017

Inspection Report

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09 May 2013

Inspection Report

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14 October 2009

Inspection Report

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15 May 2007

Inspection Report

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28 October 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-03-28

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2017-10-18

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2013-05-09

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2009-10-14

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 126 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	126	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	127	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	120	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	118	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	116	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	128	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	128	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	130	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	129	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	125	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	126	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	133	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	135	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	130	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	130	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	130	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	130	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	132	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	133	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	137	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	139	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	138	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	135	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	136	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	138	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	137	0.0%	0.5%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 7 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 5 pupils

Physical Disability 4 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 3 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree56%

agree37%

don't know7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree37%

agree52%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree52%

agree19%

disagree4%

don't know4%

not applicable22%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree48%

agree33%

disagree19%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree59%

agree33%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree48%

agree48%

disagree4%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree63%

agree30%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree56%

agree37%

disagree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree44%

agree48%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes93%

no7%

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Woodhall Primary School

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Abbots Green Primary Academy

Good

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Poplars Community Primary School

Requires improvement

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Suffolk

The Albert Pye Community Primary School

Lavenham Community Primary School

Red Oak Primary School

Woodhall Primary School

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Poplars Community Primary School