Ditchingham Church of England Primary Academy

About Ditchingham Church of England Primary Academy

Ditchingham Church of England Primary Academy is a small state primary in the Norfolk local authority, and it punches well above its weight academically. In the most recent rankings based on Key Stage 2 outcomes, it placed 1st out of 54 primary schools in the South Norfolk district, and 5th out of 1,612 schools across the entire East of England region. Nationally, it sits at 34th out of 13,686 primaries. Its closest peers in the local authority rankings include Surlingham Primary School, Ashleigh Primary School and Nursery in Wymondham, and Blenheim Park Academy. With just 69 pupils on roll against a capacity of 140, the school is significantly undersubscribed by size, yet it attracted 10 applications for 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.43 applicants per place. Headteacher Heather Brand leads a Church of England school that has clearly built a strong reputation in the area.

Academically, the school’s 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results are exceptional. Every single pupil met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined — a perfect 100% — compared to a local authority average of just 52%. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was 8%, which is modest, but individual subject results tell a stronger story: 46% of pupils achieved the higher standard in maths, 38% in reading, and 15% in writing. Average scaled scores were 108 in maths and 109 in reading, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2022, rated it Good overall, with Good marks across every category including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when the school was rated Requires Improvement overall.

The school offers a range of facilities including a Forest School, library, playing fields, music rooms, and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, gymnastics, rounders, cross country, cricket, and tennis, while clubs include art, film, gardening, drama, and science. For pupils with additional needs, the school has a specific provision for Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia). With only 14.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is relatively advantaged. This is a small, rural Church of England primary that suits families who value strong academic outcomes in an intimate setting, and who are comfortable with a school that is oversubscribed despite its modest size. The lack of nursery provision or a sixth form means it serves the primary years only, from age 4 to 11.

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