Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy

Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy is performing exceptionally well, achieving an overall effectiveness rating of 'Outstanding' in its latest inspection. The school has demonstrated a strong commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), receive the support they require to thrive academically and personally. The curriculum is ambitious and well-delivered by highly skilled teachers, contributing to the exceptional progress of students. Pupils express pride in their school, which fosters a positive and safe learning environment where exemplary behaviour is the norm.

Strengths

• Exceptional progress for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Highly inclusive and supportive school environment.
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum.
• Strong prioritization of reading and phonics.
• Well-planned personal development provision.

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 Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy attended 95.7% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.8% 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, 0.3% of pupils at Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy 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 Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy had 23.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.8% 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, 15.5% of pupils at Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy 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 Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy received £6,730 and spent £6,733 for each of its 382 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £83,000 (£218 per pupil).

Across all 22 schools of The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, income was £11,069 and spending £10,622 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

Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy is part of The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, which runs 40 schools. The nearest others:

• St Michael's Church of England Academy King'S Lynn
• St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Sandringham and West Newton Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Flitcham Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Narborough Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Rudham CofE Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Gooderstone Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Docking Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery King'S Lynn
• Swaffham CofE Primary Academy Swaffham

What is Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy have?

Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy has 394 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy cover?

Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy?

Whitefriars Church of England Primary Academy is at Whitefriars Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5AH.