Colkirk Church of England Primary Academy

About Colkirk Church of England Primary Academy

Colkirk Church of England Primary Academy is a small state primary in the Norfolk village of Colkirk, within the Breckland district. It sits in a local authority where 21 out of 344 primary schools hold an Outstanding rating, though Colkirk itself is rated Good overall, a grade it has maintained across both its 2019 graded inspection and its most recent ungraded inspection in 2024. In the local rankings, it places 257th out of 344 primaries in Norfolk, and 40th out of 43 schools in Breckland specifically. The top-performing peers in the same local authority include Ditchingham Church of England Primary Academy and Surlingham Primary School, both with perfect ranking scores, and Stalham Academy with a score of 89. For families weighing up options in this corner of Norfolk, Colkirk offers a distinctly small-scale setting — just 63 pupils on roll against a capacity of 84 — and a Church of England character that may appeal to those seeking a faith-based primary close to home.

Academically, the school’s most recent Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 17%, well below the Norfolk local authority average of 52%. In individual subjects, 50% met the expected standard in reading and 50% in writing, while only 33% did so in maths. The average scaled scores were 102 for reading and 99 for maths, both slightly below national benchmarks. No pupils achieved the higher standard in the combined measure, though 17% did so in reading. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is difficult to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The Ofsted inspection from 2019 rated leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all as Good, with the 2024 ungraded visit confirming the school remains Good.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 17 applications for 9 places and all 9 first-preference offers taken up, giving a ratio of 1.89 applicants per place. Facilities include an art studio, ICT suite, forest school area, sensory room, gymnasium, sports hall, music rooms, dining hall and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, dance, tennis, athletics, cross country and gymnastics, while clubs range from art and choir to eco club and book club. The school’s SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication difficulties, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 27% of pupils eligible for free school meals, this is a school serving a relatively disadvantaged intake. It will suit families who value a very small, church-affiliated primary with strong pastoral and SEND support, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that sit below the local average.

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