Classpot

Howard Community Academy

West Suffolk, IP32 6SAPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Jul 2025
KS2 Results
24%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
20 1st-choice / 21 places
Ranking
#13,478
of 13,686 nationally

About Howard Community Academy

Howard Community Academy is a state primary school in Suffolk, serving children aged 3 to 11. It sits within the West Suffolk area, where it ranks 43rd out of 44 primary schools on the key stage 2 expected standard measure, placing it in the bottom tier locally. For context, the top-performing schools in the same local authority include Stratford St Mary Primary School, Somerleyton Primary School, and Wenhaston Primary School, all of which achieved significantly higher ranking scores. The school is led by headteacher Alison Weir and has a capacity of 315 pupils, though current numbers stand at 196, meaning there is room for growth. It is a mixed, non-religious school with nursery provision, and it does not have a sixth form. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, receiving 28 applications for 21 places, with 20 of those being first-preference applications.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBeard Road, Bury St Edmunds, West Suffolk, IP32 6SA
HeadteacherAlison Weir
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils196
Free School Meals (FSM)41.3%
School Capacity196 / 315 (62% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 35 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

1 Jul 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Art StudiosICT SuiteOutdoor PlaygroundSensory RoomSports HallDining HallMusic RoomsPlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

FootballTennisAthleticsCross CountrySwimming

Clubs & Activities

DramaBook ClubEco ClubCodingArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:20

Breakfast club

07:45-08:45

Source: howardacademy.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Howard Community Academy

Howard Community Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.