Kersey Church of England Primary School

About Kersey Church of England Primary School

Kersey Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Suffolk, and its headline metrics tell a story that parents will want to weigh carefully. The local authority average for Key Stage 2 pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 58 per cent, but at Kersey that figure is just 33 per cent — a gap of 25 percentage points. That places the school in the bottom half of primary schools in Babergh, ranked 31st out of 34, and in the bottom five per cent nationally. However, the picture is not uniformly low. In reading, 67 per cent of pupils met the expected standard and 44 per cent reached the higher standard, both well above the school’s own combined figure. The average reading score of 108 is strong, and the maths average of 103 is solid. So while the headline combined result is a concern, the reading outcomes suggest that some pupils are performing well, and the school’s small cohort of just 40 children means a few individuals can shift percentages dramatically.

Academically, the school has moved in a positive direction since its last full inspection. In 2019, Ofsted rated it Requires Improvement overall, with leadership and management graded as Good but early years provision and overall effectiveness both at a 3. In its most recent graded inspection in June 2024, the school achieved an overall rating of Good, with behaviour and attitudes and personal development both rated Outstanding. The early years provision improved from Requires Improvement to Good. The co-headteachers, Jess Damant and Mrs Claire Dunnell Paley, have overseen this turnaround. At Key Stage 2, the maths expected standard was 56 per cent, writing 33 per cent, and reading 67 per cent. There is no Progress 8 data available for primary schools, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds, but the improvement in Ofsted grades is a clear signal of better leadership and a stronger culture for learning.

Kersey is a Church of England school with a strong set of facilities for its size, including a forest school, art studios, an ICT suite, a gymnasium and a chapel. It offers a range of sports such as rounders, gymnastics and cross country, plus clubs like art, science and gardening. The school has a specific SEND provision for speech, language and communication needs. Admission data for the 2025/26 intake shows the school is oversubscribed: 14 applications for just 5 places, a ratio of 2.8 to 1, with all 5 first-preference offers accepted. With 27.5 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged community compared with the Suffolk average. This is a small, village primary that has improved its Ofsted rating and offers a broad range of activities, but parents should look closely at the combined KS2 results and consider whether the school’s strengths in reading and personal development align with their priorities.

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