Holy Cross Church of England Primary School

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School has shown commendable progress since its last inspection, where it was rated as requiring improvement. The school has successfully merged two communities into one, fostering a positive and inclusive environment for its pupils. The leadership team, along with the trust, has made significant strides in curriculum development, ensuring that students receive a high-quality education that builds on their existing knowledge. While the school encourages a strong sense of community and pride among pupils, it also supports their mental health and well-being through various programs and activities.

Strengths

• Strong sense of community and inclusion among pupils
• Effective curriculum development that supports deep understanding
• Skilled teaching in early reading and phonics
• Support for pupils with SEND, fostering their inclusion in mainstream classes
• Well-managed personal development programs that promote responsibility and citizenship
• Positive behavior climate leading to a calm and orderly environment

Areas for Improvement

• Some support for pupils with SEND lacks precise targeting, affecting their progress
• A significant minority of pupils are persistently absent, impacting their learning

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 Holy Cross Church of England Primary School attended 97.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.8% 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, 2.1% of pupils at Holy Cross Church of England 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 Holy Cross Church of England Primary School had 14.0 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, 18.2% of pupils at Holy Cross Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.6% 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 Holy Cross Church of England Primary School received £10,989 and spent £10,882 for each of its 47 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £0 (£0 per pupil).

Across all 38 schools of Grace Schools, income was £7,113 and spending £6,207 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 King'S Lynn · Norfolk local authority: places and applications

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School is part of Grace Schools, which runs 38 schools. The nearest others:

• St Martin At Shouldham Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Marshland St James Primary and Nursery School Wisbech
• Hilgay Riverside Academy Downham Market
• Tilney All Saints CofE Primary School King'S Lynn
• All Saints Academy King'S Lynn
• Anthony Curton CofE Primary School Wisbech
• St Peter's CofE Aided Junior School Wisbech
• Elm CofE Primary School Wisbech
• Orchards Church of England Academy Wisbech
• The Norman Church of England Primary School, Northwold Thetford

What is Holy Cross Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Holy Cross Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2023.

When was Holy Cross Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School was last inspected in September 2023.

How many pupils does Holy Cross Church of England Primary School have?

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School has 55 pupils on roll.

What age range does Holy Cross Church of England Primary School cover?

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 2 to 11.

What are Holy Cross Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 40% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Holy Cross Church of England Primary School?

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School is at School Road, Runcton Holme, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE33 0EL.