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Birchwood Primary School

East Suffolk, IP5 3SPPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Dec 2022
KS2 Results
67%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
33 1st-choice / 29 places
Ranking
#5,476
of 13,686 nationally

About Birchwood Primary School

Birchwood Primary School’s headline metrics put it comfortably ahead of the Suffolk local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined (KS2) sits at 58%, Birchwood achieves 67% — a clear nine-point lead. This places the school 62nd out of 253 primaries in Suffolk, and 21st out of 72 in East Suffolk, putting it in the top 30% of its immediate borough. The school’s Ofsted rating of Outstanding, confirmed in its most recent graded inspection in 2016 and upheld in an ungraded inspection in 2022, reinforces this picture. Early years provision, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness all scored top marks. For parents comparing schools within the same local authority, Birchwood stands out as a solid performer that exceeds the typical benchmark by a meaningful margin.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressValiant Road, Ipswich, East Suffolk, IP5 3SP
HeadteacherPhilippa Wake
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils206
Free School Meals (FSM)8.7%
School Capacity206 / 210 (98% full)

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

14 Dec 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Latest monitoring visit (14 Dec 2022): School remains Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 21 Nov 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Sports HallPlaying FieldsDining HallMusic RoomsICT SuiteLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

SwimmingCricketDanceNetballTennisFootball

Clubs & Activities

ChessScience ClubCodingArt ClubGardeningFilm Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:00 – 15:25

Breakfast club

07:45-08:50

After-school care

15:25-18:00

Source: birchwoodprimary.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Birchwood Primary School

Birchwood Primary School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.