Capel St Mary Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Capel St Mary Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Ofsted's Parent View responses, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, show that 82% of the 22 parents who responded would recommend Capel St Mary Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School. That's a solid vote of confidence, though it's worth noting the small sample size. The school is also clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 64 applications for just 45 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.42. Of those, 46 put it as their first preference, and 44 first-preference offers were made. Parents responding to the survey were particularly positive about their children's happiness, with 96% either agreeing or strongly agreeing that their child is happy at the school, and 86% feeling their child is safe. However, the picture is more mixed on communication: 36% of parents disagreed that the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and 27% disagreed that the school supports their child's wider personal development.

Academically, Capel St Mary's most recent Key Stage 2 results, from the 2023/24 academic year, place it in the bottom half of schools nationally. Just 49% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Suffolk local authority average of 58%. The school ranks 25th out of 34 primary schools in the Babergh district on this measure. Looking at individual subjects, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in both reading and writing, and 67% in maths. The proportion hitting the higher standard was lower: 26% in reading, 18% in maths and 10% in writing. Average scaled scores were 104 in reading and 103 in maths. In its most recent graded inspection, in March 2020, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with Good marks across all categories including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. A subsequent ungraded inspection in May 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained.

The school has a Church of England character and a nursery provision for children from age three. Facilities include a library, sensory room, sports hall, ICT suite, forest school area, music rooms, art studios and a chapel. There are playing fields and a range of sports on offer, from tennis and swimming to netball and dance, plus clubs such as drama, choir, science club and eco club. For children with additional needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 276 pupils on roll against a capacity of 315, there is some physical space, but the oversubscription figures suggest demand is high. This is a school that suits families who value its local popularity and Church of England foundation, but those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing local options such as Copdock Primary School, the nearest Outstanding-rated school, 4.5 km away.

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