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Poplars Community Primary School

East Suffolk, NR32 4HNPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Nov 2023
KS2 Results
60%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
24 1st-choice / 24 places
Ranking
#7,617
of 13,686 nationally

About Poplars Community Primary School

Poplars Community Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 results sit slightly above the Suffolk local authority average for primary schools, but the picture is more mixed when you dig into the detail. The school’s percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined stands at 60%, compared with the LA average of 58%. That’s a modest but meaningful edge. However, the proportion achieving the higher standard in all three subjects is just 2%, which is low. In maths, 77% of pupils met the expected level and 12% reached the higher standard, while in reading the figures were 69% and 19% respectively. Writing saw 71% at expected and only 4% at the higher level. So while Poplars is broadly in line with or slightly ahead of its local peers on expected attainment, it struggles to push a significant number of children into the top bracket.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressSt Margaret's Road, Lowestoft, East Suffolk, NR32 4HN
HeadteacherGemma Hurren
Local AuthoritySuffolk
Number of Pupils277
Free School Meals (FSM)51.3%
School Capacity277 / 598 (46% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

21 Nov 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 4 Feb 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

5
Sports HallGymnasiumICT SuiteForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

RoundersAthleticsCricketDanceCross CountryFootball

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubGardeningArt ClubDramaEco Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:00

Breakfast club

07:40-08:30

After-school care

15:00-16:30

Source: poplars.suffolk.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Poplars Community Primary School

Poplars Community Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.