Risby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

About Risby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Risby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School holds a Good rating from its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, though its previous inspection in 2009 rated it Outstanding across the board. The most telling academic metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined: 71 per cent. That is well above the Suffolk local authority average of 58 per cent for primary schools, placing Risby in the top 50 nationally for this measure. In the West Suffolk area, it ranks 9th out of 44 primary schools. The school’s reading scores are particularly strong, with an average scaled score of 107 and 42 per cent of pupils reaching the higher standard. Maths also performs above the national average, with an average score of 105 and 81 per cent achieving the expected level. Behaviour and attitudes were judged Outstanding by Ofsted, and leadership, early years provision and personal development all scored Good.

The school’s exam results tell a story of solid academic performance without being exceptional at the top end. Only 6 per cent of pupils reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and the same proportion achieved higher in writing. In maths, 16 per cent reached the higher standard, while reading saw 42 per cent at that level. The school has no Progress 8 data available, so it is hard to gauge how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. Ofsted’s breakdown notes that the quality of education is Good, and the early years provision is also Good. With 202 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is nearly full. It is oversubscribed for Reception places in 2025/26, receiving 61 applications for 24 places, with 23 first-preference offers made — an oversubscription ratio of 2.54, indicating strong local demand.

Risby offers a range of facilities including an ICT suite, sensory room, outdoor playground, gymnasium and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, gymnastics, netball, cross country and cricket, while clubs include gardening, book club, eco club, science club, film club and art club. The school has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. With 8.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively advantaged intake. Headteacher Soo Miller leads a Church of England school that suits families who value strong core academic outcomes, a supportive pastoral environment with an Outstanding behaviour rating, and a range of extracurricular activities within a village primary setting.

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