Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #245 in Norfolk public Top 98% UK

The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy

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

personMrs Lorraine Ratcliffe

corporate_fareTHE DIOCESE OF NORWICH EDUCATION AND ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onThetford, IP24 1EB

language Visit Website phone 1842754902

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

378

school

Expected Standard

27%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Thetford, serving ages 3-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 98% of primary schools nationally.

article

School Summary

The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy is an academy sponsor led in Thetford, Norfolk, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of THE DIOCESE OF NORWICH EDUCATION AND ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 359 pupils on roll, of whom 62% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 27% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #245 of 265 primaries in Norfolk and #13,598 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. 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 Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 10.2 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

27%

LA 53%

Reading48% LA 69%

Writing46% LA 63%

Maths48% LA 66%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

14%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading39% LA 69% · Eng 74%

Writing33% LA 59% · Eng 72%

Maths28% LA 64% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

22%

LA 49%England 60%

Reading30% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing30% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths34% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-4.4

Read

LA -0.8

-6.1 to -2.6

-2.9

Write

LA -1.7

-4.6 to -1.2

-3.4

Maths

LA -1.5

-5.1 to -1.8

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

27%

LA 58%England 65%

Reading34% LA 68% · Eng 73%

Writing39% LA 73% · Eng 78%

Maths54% LA 71% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.2

Read

LA -0.9

-7.1 to -3.2

-4.8

Write

LA -1.1

-6.6 to -3.0

-3.1

Maths

LA -1.5

-4.8 to -1.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

28%

LA 57%

Reading38% LA 70%

Writing55% LA 73%

Maths35% LA 68%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.7

Read

LA -0.8

-5.6 to -1.8

0.7

Write

LA -0.9

-1.1 to 2.5

-3.4

Maths

LA -1.3

-5.1 to -1.7

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

04 March 2025

Inspection Report

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13 September 2022

Inspection Report

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05 May 2021

Inspection Report

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03 February 2021

Inspection Report

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03 November 2020

Inspection Report

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08 October 2019

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-03-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-09-13

Serious Weaknesses S5 Reinspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-10-08

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Inadequate

Education

Inadequate

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2014-09-24

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-12-04

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Requires improvement

history Predecessor Link

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

10.9%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.9%(14 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 359 pupils. During this period, there were 39 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 10.9%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	359	39	10.9%	0.8%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	354	34	9.6%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	390	39	10.0%	0.8%	1
2023/24 (Spring term)	383	12	3.1%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	368	28	7.6%	0.8%	1
2022/23 (Summer term)	390	31	7.9%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	378	15	4.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	369	12	3.3%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	386	8	2.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	386	24	6.2%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	382	19	5.0%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	415	21	5.1%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	415	1	0.2%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	419	40	9.5%	0.4%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	421	5	1.2%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	421	3	0.7%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	402	16	4.0%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	410	1	0.2%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	396	14	3.5%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	400	28	7.0%	0.5%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	394	18	4.6%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	393	7	1.8%	0.4%	2
2017/18 (Autumn term)	386	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	389	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	384	0	0.0%	0.4%	0

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

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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 24 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 18 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 11 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Multi-Sensory 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.

100.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

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

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree36%

agree45%

disagree9%

strongly disagree9%

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

strongly agree64%

agree36%

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

strongly agree36%

agree18%

disagree18%

not applicable27%

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 agree45%

agree55%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree73%

agree27%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree64%

agree27%

disagree9%

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

strongly agree73%

agree18%

disagree9%

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

strongly agree55%

agree18%

disagree18%

strongly disagree9%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree55%

agree27%

disagree9%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes91%

no9%

Top Primary Schools in Norfolk

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery, Wymondham

Outstanding

location_on Wymondham, NR18 0HL

emoji_events #1 in LA

Stalham Academy

Good

location_on Norwich, NR12 9PS

emoji_events #2 in LA

Charles Darwin Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Norwich, NR1 1DJ

emoji_events #3 in LA

Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School

Good

location_on Wisbech, PE14 8EY

emoji_events #4 in LA

North Wootton Academy

Good

location_on King's Lynn, PE30 3PT

emoji_events #5 in LA

Stradbroke Primary Academy

Good

location_on Great Yarmouth, NR31 6LZ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Norfolk arrow_forward

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 Norfolk

Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery, Wymondham

Stalham Academy

Charles Darwin Primary School

Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School

North Wootton Academy

Stradbroke Primary Academy