Middleton Church of England Primary Academy

About Middleton Church of England Primary Academy

Middleton Church of England Primary Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2022, a significant downgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The inspection report paints a stark picture, with the school judged Inadequate across the board — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and early years provision — while personal development was rated Requires Improvement. On the most informative exam metric available, the school’s Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard attainment sits at just 17%, compared with a Norfolk local authority average of 52%. This places the school 259th out of 344 primary schools in the county, and in the bottom 50 nationally for this measure. With only 17 pupils on roll against a capacity of 126, the school is clearly struggling to attract families, and the data suggests significant challenges in academic outcomes.

Looking more closely at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is mixed by subject. In reading, 67% of pupils met the expected standard, with an average score of 101, while in maths the same proportion achieved the expected standard, with an average score of 100. Writing tells a different story — just 33% reached the expected standard, and no pupils at all achieved the higher standard in any of the three subjects. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it is not possible to measure how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The Ofsted breakdown shows that early years provision was also rated Inadequate, which is a concern given the school offers nursery provision for children from age three. With a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals (41.2%), the school serves a disadvantaged community, but the academic outcomes suggest it is not yet meeting those pupils’ needs effectively.

The school does have some practical assets worth noting. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, library, sensory room and chapel, and it offers a range of clubs such as film club, chess, gardening, science club and choir, plus sports including netball, tennis, football, cross country, swimming and gymnastics. For children with special educational needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, and speech, language and communication needs. Admissions data for 2025/26 shows the school is technically oversubscribed, with six applications for two places, though only one first-preference application was received. This is a small, rural Church of England primary in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk that may suit families who value its facilities and small setting, but the Ofsted rating and academic outcomes mean parents will want to visit and ask searching questions about the school’s improvement plan before considering it.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Middleton Church of England Primary Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents