Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School sits within Suffolk’s East Suffolk borough, a rural corner of the county where primary options are spread thinly. Among the 253 state primary schools in the local authority, it ranks 108th, placing it comfortably in the middle of the pack. The top-performing peers in the area — Stratford St Mary, Somerleyton and Wenhaston primary schools — all score notably higher on the same ranking metric, but Kelsale holds its own as a solid, well-regarded village school. It is one of 14 primaries in Suffolk currently rated Outstanding, though Kelsale itself carries a Good rating from its most recent graded inspection in 2013, confirmed as unchanged in an ungraded visit in 2022. With 159 pupils on roll against a capacity of 168, it is nearly full but not bursting, and its Church of England foundation gives it a distinct local identity within the community it serves.

Academically, Kelsale’s Key Stage 2 results for 2023/24 paint a mixed but broadly positive picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 60%, just above the Suffolk local authority average of 58%. Individual subject scores were stronger: 88% met the expected standard in writing, 84% in maths, and 72% in reading. At the higher standard, maths led the way with 20% of pupils achieving it, followed by reading at 16% and writing at just 4%. Average scaled scores were 105 in maths and 103 in reading, both slightly above the national benchmark of 100. The school does not publish progress scores for any subject, so it is difficult to judge how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment figures suggest a school where most children leave with a solid foundation, particularly in maths and writing.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment for its pupils. Facilities include a Forest School, a gymnasium, a sports hall, an ICT suite, a library and a chapel, which reflects its Church of England character. Sports provision covers football, gymnastics, athletics, cricket, cross country and tennis, while clubs range from film and book clubs to coding, drama, chess and choir. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties or disabilities. Admissions for 2025/26 show the school is oversubscribed: 47 applications were received for 23 places, with 27 first-preference applications and 23 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of just over two applicants per place. This is a school that suits families looking for a Church of England primary with strong community roots, decent facilities and a broad extracurricular offer, but they will need to live nearby and apply early to secure a place.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Kelsale Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents