Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Popular emoji_events #220 in Suffolk public Top 97% UK

St Mary's Church of England Academy

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

personMrs Roxanne Rutter

corporate_fareST MARY'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY TRUST

location_onBury St Edmunds, IP28 7LR

language Visit Website phone 1638713317

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

412

school

Expected Standard

31%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Mary's Church of England Academy is a Academy converter primary school in Bury St Edmunds, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Demand is above capacity (1.0×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 97% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Mary's Church of England Academy is an academy converter in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, admitting pupils aged 4-11. It is part of ST MARY'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 405 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 31% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #220 of 225 primaries in Suffolk and #13,724 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.0× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.9 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

31%

LA 57%

Reading53% LA 73%

Writing54% LA 68%

Maths49% LA 69%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

47%

LA 55%England 61%

Reading62% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing64% LA 68% · Eng 72%

Maths59% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

30%

LA 54%England 60%

Reading57% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Writing37% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths48% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.9

Read

LA 0.0

-3.6 to -0.3

-7.1

Write

LA -0.4

-8.6 to -5.5

-3.4

Maths

LA -0.6

-4.9 to -1.8

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

54%

LA 61%England 65%

Reading59% LA 71% · Eng 73%

Writing75% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths74% LA 75% · Eng 79%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.6

Read

LA -0.6

-4.2 to -1.0

-1.0

Write

LA -0.7

-2.4 to 0.5

-1.1

Maths

LA -1.1

-2.5 to 0.2

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

55%

LA 60%

Reading65% LA 73%

Writing75% LA 74%

Maths65% LA 71%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.4

Read

LA -0.4

-3.9 to -0.9

-0.4

Write

LA -0.5

-1.9 to 1.1

-1.6

Maths

LA -1.0

-3 to -0.2

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

22 May 2024

Inspection Report

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08 March 2023

Inspection Report

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08 June 2017

Inspection Report

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22 April 2016

Inspection Report

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04 February 2016

Inspection Report

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08 July 2015

Inspection Report

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18 October 2013

Inspection Report

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10 July 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2024-05-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-06-08

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-04-22

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-02-04

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-07-08

None Legacy

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

0.7%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.5%(2 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 405 pupils. During this period, there were 3 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.7%, which is below the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	405	3	0.7%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	405	4	1.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	405	0	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	404	3	0.7%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	403	5	1.2%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	413	10	2.4%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	412	20	4.9%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	407	12	2.9%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	413	1	0.2%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	418	10	2.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	420	5	1.2%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	415	5	1.2%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	413	0	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	408	7	1.7%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	413	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	413	0	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	406	11	2.7%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	416	1	0.2%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	417	2	0.5%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	416	3	0.7%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	416	3	0.7%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	415	1	0.2%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	412	1	0.2%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	417	3	0.7%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	417	7	1.7%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	420	2	0.5%	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 28 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 19 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 13 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 13 pupils

Hearing Impairment 6 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

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

22.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree36%

agree55%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree42%

agree43%

disagree12%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree38%

agree30%

disagree11%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable16%

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

yes27%

no73%

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

strongly agree21%

agree34%

disagree21%

strongly disagree21%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree41%

agree46%

disagree8%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree46%

agree38%

disagree12%

strongly disagree1%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree34%

agree45%

disagree17%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree47%

agree42%

disagree3%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree64%

agree30%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree42%

agree39%

disagree10%

strongly disagree2%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes88%

no12%

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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.

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

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Woodhall Primary School

Abbots Green Primary Academy

Poplars Community Primary School