Classpot

Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School

East Suffolk, NR34 7QBPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2022
KS2 Results
42%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
8 1st-choice / 8 places
Ranking
#12,211
of 13,686 nationally

About Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School

Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School is a small state primary in East Suffolk, currently teaching 78 pupils against a capacity of 105, so there is room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22. 9%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and suggests the school serves a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Despite this, demand is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 14 applications for just 8 places, with all 8 first-preference families receiving an offer. That oversubscription ratio of 1. 75 to 1 indicates a school that local families actively want, even though it is not among the highest-ranked in the local authority. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and has no religious character, so it draws from a broad catchment. It also offers nursery provision for children from age three, which can be a practical draw for working parents looking for continuity through to Year 6.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressThe Street, Beccles, East Suffolk, NR34 7QB
HeadteacherSimon Lea
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils78
Free School Meals (FSM)22.9%
School Capacity78 / 105 (74% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Feb 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 24 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

SEN Unit
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultySEN Unit

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School

Barnby and North Cove Community Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.