Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is a highly effective school where pupils thrive in an aspirational and supportive culture. Inspectors found the curriculum broad and ambitious, teaching exceptionally well organised, and pupils—including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)—achieving exceptionally well from their starting points. Reading is a particular strength, with carefully matched books and swift support for pupils needing extra practice, while early years provision gives children an excellent start through language, vocabulary and social development. Pupils’ behaviour and personal development are exemplary. They are polite, respectful and responsible, support younger pupils, take part in pupil-led clubs and the ‘Alpington Parliament’, and contribute positively to the school and local community. The school promotes character, confidence and respect for difference exceptionally well, and parents praise its inclusive environment. Leadership is strong, staff receive excellent support and training, and safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection since July 2015; it had been exempt from routine inspection because of its previous outstanding judgement, and under current arrangements no overall effectiveness grade is awarded. Inspectors identified no significant areas for improvement in this report.

Strengths

• Broad and ambitious curriculum designed to connect pupils’ learning across topics
• Exceptionally well-organised teaching that builds clearly on prior learning
• Pupils achieve high standards and develop confidence across the curriculum
• Highly effective support for pupils with SEND, helping them develop independence
• Exceptionally strong reading provision with books carefully matched to pupils’ phonics knowledge
• Early years provision gives children an excellent start, especially in language and vocabulary
• Children develop excellent social skills and learn to understand and express their feelings
• Pupils’ conduct is exemplary and fallings-out are rare
• Highly successful personal development, including pupil-led clubs and exceptional character development
• Pupils learn about democracy and responsibility through the ‘Alpington Parliament’
• Trips, visits and enrichment activities broaden pupils’ horizons and develop new talents
• Strong leadership provides excellent support and training for staff
• Effective safeguarding arrangements
• Positive and inclusive environment praised by parents and carers

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School attended 96.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School had 21.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 9.9% of pupils at Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School received £6,321 and spent £6,284 for each of its 142 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £70,000 (£493 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in February 2025.

When was Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was last inspected in February 2025.

How many pupils does Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School have?

Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School has 142 pupils on roll.

What age range does Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School cover?

Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School?

Alpington and Bergh Apton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School is at Wheel Road, Alpington, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 7NH.