Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy

Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy is performing well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating across all inspected areas. The school has a structured curriculum that engages pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, and fosters a positive learning environment. Most pupils demonstrate respect for their teachers, enjoy their learning, and participate actively in school life, including various enrichment activities. Leaders and staff are dedicated to improving the school environment, as evidenced by recent improvements in punctuality and attendance. However, there are areas for further development, specifically regarding consistency in the application of behavior policies and support for SEND pupils.

Strengths

• Well-structured curriculum that engages pupils.
• Strong subject knowledge among staff.
• Enthusiastic and respectful pupils.
• Wide range of well-attended clubs and extracurricular activities.
• Effective strategies for improving attendance.
• Good support for pupils' personal development.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent application of the new behavior policy by some staff.
• Guidance for SEND pupils is not always clear, leading to inconsistent support.

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 Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy attended 94.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.2% 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, 7.4% of pupils at Sculthorpe 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 Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy had 13.8 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, 21.3% of pupils at Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.6% 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 2021–22 Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy received £9,875 and spent £9,555 for each of its 61 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £12,000 (£198 per pupil).

Across all 33 schools of The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, income was £6,607 and spending £6,903 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 Fakenham · Norfolk local authority: places and applications

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

• Colkirk Church of England Primary Academy Fakenham
• Little Snoring Community Primary Academy Fakenham
• Rudham CofE Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• All Saints Stibbard Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery Fakenham
• Brisley Church of England Primary Academy Dereham
• North Elmham Church of England Primary Academy & Nursery Dereham
• Docking Church of England Primary Academy and Nursery King'S Lynn
• Flitcham Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy King'S Lynn
• Dereham Church of England Infant and Nursery Academy Dereham

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

The latest Ofsted rating for Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

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

Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy was last inspected in May 2024.

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

Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy has 61 pupils on roll.

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

Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy for pupils aged 3 to 11.

Where is Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy?

Sculthorpe Church of England Primary Academy is at Creake Road, Sculthorpe, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 9NQ.