Howard Junior School
75%
Capacity
172
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Howard Junior School
Howard Junior School, a state primary for pupils aged 7 to 11 in King's Lynn, serves a community where 43.6% of its 172 pupils are eligible for free school meals — well above the national average. Its headline metrics, however, paint a starkly different picture from the local authority norm. Norfolk's average Key Stage 2 score sits at 52, a benchmark this school has not met in its most recent assessments. More concerning is the school's overall Ofsted rating of Inadequate, a far cry from the 21 outstanding primaries across the county. The inspection, carried out in March 2023, found leadership and management and overall effectiveness both rated 4 (Inadequate), while quality of education and personal development were judged as Requires Improvement. Only behaviour and attitudes earned a Good rating, suggesting pockets of strength but deep systemic issues that the school is now working to address.
Academically, the data is thin on specific exam results, but the Ofsted breakdown is revealing. The quality of education was graded Requires Improvement, meaning pupils are not consistently achieving the standards expected for their age. With no published Progress 8 or SATs scores in the dataset, parents must rely on the inspection's judgment that the curriculum is not yet delivering strong outcomes. The school's capacity is 229, yet it currently holds just 172 pupils, which may reflect parental confidence or local demographic shifts. Compared to Norfolk's top-performing peers like Ditchingham Church of England Primary Academy or Surlingham Primary School, Howard Junior is clearly struggling. The nearest outstanding alternative, Eastgate Academy, is only 1.5 km away, offering a direct comparison for families weighing their options.
On the ground, the school does offer a range of facilities that could support improvement: a sports hall, ICT suite, library, music rooms, art studios, and a forest school. Clubs include eco club, gardening, coding, choir, book club, and drama, while sports provision covers tennis, cricket, football, and swimming. SEND support is in place for moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication issues, and other difficulties. This suggests the school is equipped to support a diverse intake. However, with an Inadequate rating and a headteacher, Ben Paull, leading a turnaround, this is a school for families who are committed to being part of that journey — perhaps those already in the catchment or with children already enrolled. For others, the proximity of Eastgate Academy may be a more straightforward choice.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 7 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Parkway, King's Lynn, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE30 4QJ |
| Headteacher | Ben Paull |
| Local Authority | Norfolk |
| Number of Pupils | 172 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 43.6% |
| School Capacity | 172 / 229 (75% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Source: Ofsted, 27 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British54.7%
- White (other)34.9%
- Mixed2.3%
- Asian1.8%
- Black1.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Howard Junior School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Parkway, King's Lynn
King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE30 4QJ
Parkway, King's Lynn
King's Lynn and West Norfolk, PE30 4QJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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