Gusford Community Primary School

Gusford Community Primary School is a rapidly improving school where pupils enjoy learning and behave well. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully sequenced, reading and phonics are prioritised, and pupils with SEND are supported effectively so they access the same curriculum as their peers. Personal development is a particular strength, with an exemplary PSHE curriculum and a wide range of enriching experiences that prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain. Early years provision is also strong, and staff, governors and trustees work together well. The school has high expectations and a nurturing, community-focused ethos. Pupils feel safe, parents value the school, and leadership has created a supportive climate for staff. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school is part of Active Learning Trust and has seen several staffing changes since its previous inspection, including the appointment of the headteacher. There are two main areas for improvement. The school’s checks on how well the curriculum is being implemented are still in their infancy, so staff need support to monitor and evaluate all subjects consistently and rigorously. In addition, pupils do not yet routinely receive a rich, diverse and varied reading diet, which limits some pupils’ reading experience, fluency and range of authors and genres.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy school and behave well in lessons and around the school
• The curriculum is ambitious, carefully sequenced and builds knowledge over time
• Reading is prioritised through a well-structured phonics programme starting in early years
• Pupils with SEND receive effective support and access the same ambitious curriculum
• Personal development is a real strength, with an exemplary PSHE curriculum
• A wide range of clubs and experiences enriches pupils’ wider development
• Early years provision is ambitious and well planned, preparing children well for Year 1
• Governors and trustees provide robust support and challenge
• Staff feel valued and leaders have created a supportive, trusting climate
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum implementation checks are in their infancy and not yet consistently rigorous across subjects
• Staff need support to monitor and evaluate all subjects effectively and accurately
• Pupils are not routinely exposed to a rich, diverse and engaging reading diet
• Some pupils have limited experience of different authors and genres, limiting fluency and range

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 Gusford Community Primary School attended 94.9% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.0% 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, 3.0% of pupils at Gusford Community 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 Gusford Community Primary School had 24.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 2.8% 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, 26.8% of pupils at Gusford Community Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 2024–25 Gusford Community Primary School received £6,651 and spent £6,962 for each of its 532 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £634,000 (£1,192 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of The Active Learning Trust Limited, income was £8,366 and spending £8,624 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

Gusford Community Primary School is part of The Active Learning Trust Limited, which runs 21 schools. The nearest others:

• Chantry Academy Ipswich
• Hillside Primary School Ipswich
• Sidegate Primary School Ipswich
• Reydon Primary School Southwold
• The Albert Pye Community Primary School Beccles
• Ravensmere Infant School Beccles
• Loddon Junior School Norwich
• Loddon Infant and Nursery School Norwich
• Grove Primary School Lowestoft
• Pakefield Primary School Lowestoft

What is Gusford Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Gusford Community Primary School is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Gusford Community Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Gusford Community Primary School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Gusford Community Primary School have?

Gusford Community Primary School has 518 pupils on roll.

What age range does Gusford Community Primary School cover?

Gusford Community Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Gusford Community Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 55% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Gusford Community Primary School?

Gusford Community Primary School is at Sheldrake Drive, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 9LQ.