Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a change from the Outstanding rating it held in its previous inspection back in 2007. The school's current report shows Good marks across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. When it comes to academic outcomes, the most telling metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. At 64%, this sits above the Suffolk local authority average of 58%, placing the school in the top half of primary schools nationally. This is a solid, above-average result for a village primary, and suggests that most children leave Bures well prepared for secondary school.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the school's strengths are clearest in reading, where 82% of pupils met the expected standard and 36% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 107. In writing, 79% reached the expected level and 18% hit the higher mark. Maths was slightly lower: 71% at expected and 18% at higher, with an average score of 104. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points, but the raw attainment figures are respectable. In the Babergh district, the school ranks 17th out of 34 primaries, and sits at the 50th percentile nationally. That puts it in the middle of the pack but ahead of many local peers, and comfortably above the Suffolk average for combined reading, writing and maths.

With 186 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, Bures is not at full capacity but is clearly popular: for 2025/26 admissions, there were 35 applications for 18 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.94 applicants per place. All 17 first-preference families received an offer. The school offers a range of facilities including a library, music rooms, a sensory room, a dining hall and a chapel, plus sports like dance, gymnastics and football, and clubs including chess, choir and gardening. Its SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a Church of England primary that suits families looking for a good, well-regarded village school with strong core results, a broad club offer and a clear pastoral support structure.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents