Dell Primary School

About Dell Primary School

Dell Primary School’s headline metrics place it slightly below the Suffolk local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes, with 54% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined against an LA average of 58%. That four-point gap is modest but consistent with the school’s ranking within East Suffolk, where it sits 141st out of 253 primary schools. The school’s ranking score of 54 places it in the bottom half nationally, though it’s worth noting that the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage — 34.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, significantly higher than the national average. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. The headteacher, Gemma Hurren, has overseen this turnaround, and the school now offers nursery provision for children from age three.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is mixed. In maths, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard and 30% achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 105 — both solid figures. Reading was slightly lower, with 69% at expected and 30% at higher standard, averaging 104. Writing was the weakest area: 63% met the expected standard and just 6% reached the higher standard. The combined expected standard of 54% is below the LA average of 58%, but the school’s maths performance is notably stronger than its reading and writing outcomes. The school’s Progress 8 data is not available, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. In its local authority ranking, Dell sits at 47th out of 72 schools when ranked by the combined expected standard metric, placing it in the bottom half of East Suffolk primaries. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Oulton Broad Primary School, 1.7 km away.

Dell Primary School is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 51 applications for 34 places, with all 34 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.5 suggests strong local demand, likely driven by the school’s improved Ofsted rating and its range of facilities, which include a forest school, art studios, an ICT suite, and a gymnasium. Sports provision covers netball, rounders, cricket, dance, tennis and football, while clubs include art, coding, drama, choir and chess. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a practical choice for families in East Suffolk who want a mainstream primary with strong SEND support and a Good Ofsted rating, particularly those who value the forest school and creative arts facilities. The school’s capacity is 442, but current pupil numbers are 323, so there is some headroom.

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