Walpole Cross Keys Primary School

About Walpole Cross Keys Primary School

Walpole Cross Keys Primary School sits in a curious position relative to the Norfolk local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. The LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 52%, and Walpole Cross Keys lands just below that at 50%. That is a narrow gap, but the school’s performance on the higher standard tells a starker story: zero per cent of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, compared with a reading higher standard of 13% and maths higher of 25%. So while the school is broadly in line with the local average for expected standards, it is not pushing many children into the top tier. Its Progress 8 scores are missing from the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment figures suggest a mixed picture.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in June 2024, confirmed it remains Good, an improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2012 when it was rated Requires Improvement. The leadership and management and overall effectiveness are both graded Good, though the inspection did not publish separate grades for quality of education, behaviour, personal development or early years. In the 2023/24 KS2 results, 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, 63% in writing and 63% in maths, which is a solid showing for a small school. However, the proportion reaching the higher standard in writing was also zero, and only 13% in reading. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% of primaries for the combined expected standard, sitting at the 79th percentile nationally and 74th in the East of England region.

With just 54 pupils on roll and a capacity of 56, Walpole Cross Keys is a very small village primary. It is oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 26 applications for 8 places, with 12 first-preference applications and 8 offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.25. The school offers a surprising range of facilities for its size, including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, football, netball, athletics and dance, while clubs include coding, science, eco and drama. The SEND register lists support for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that suits families looking for a small, community-focused setting with a broad enrichment offer, but those prioritising top-end academic stretch may want to look at the higher-performing schools in the local authority.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Walpole Cross Keys Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents