Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School has shown significant improvement since its previous inspection, moving from a grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' overall. The school fosters a positive atmosphere where pupils feel happy, safe, and excited about learning. Strong leadership has implemented a new, ambitious curriculum that effectively supports pupils’ development from early years through to their transition to subsequent educational stages. However, certain areas still need attention, particularly in the consistency of assessment in foundation subjects and the need for a more systematic enrichment program to enhance pupils' understanding of broader societal issues.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a strong sense of community and appreciate the support from adults.
• Teachers maintain high expectations which help pupils to learn and grow.
• Behaviour in lessons is generally positive, contributing to a productive learning environment.
• The curriculum is ambitious and well-implemented, supporting effective teaching and learning.
• Staff are well trained and support pupils with SEND to progress well.
• Leaders prioritize reading and effectively support early reading development.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment in foundation subjects is inconsistent, leading to gaps in pupils' knowledge.
• Lack of a systematic enrichment program limits broader understanding of life in modern Britain.

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 Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School attended 95.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.2% 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 Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided 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 Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School had 22.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.5% 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, 8.9% of pupils at Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% 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 Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School received £6,883 and spent £6,653 for each of its 164 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £3,000 (-£15 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Stowmarket · Suffolk local authority: places and applications

What is Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School is Good, from an inspection in March 2023.

When was Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School was last inspected in March 2023.

How many pupils does Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School have?

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School has 169 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School cover?

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 58% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School?

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School is at School Corner, Debenham, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 6PL.