Wimbotsham and Stow Academy

About Wimbotsham and Stow Academy

Wimbotsham and Stow Academy is a small state primary in Norfolk, currently operating slightly above its official capacity of 110 with 112 pupils on roll. The school serves a relatively less disadvantaged intake than many in the area, with 8.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals compared to the national average of around 23%. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 39 applications for just 15 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.6 to one. All 15 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the remaining 24 families who applied will have been disappointed. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and takes children from age three, with nursery provision on site. Headteacher Louise Arrowsmith leads a team that has clearly built a local reputation, given the level of competition for places in this corner of King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Academically, the school sits in the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 54% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just above the local authority average of 52%. That places Wimbotsham and Stow 27th out of 58 primary schools in the borough, and 133rd out of 344 across Norfolk. Nationally, it ranks in the 71st percentile, meaning it outperforms about seven in ten schools. The school's strongest subject is writing, where 85% met expectations and 15% reached the higher standard. Reading saw 77% at expected and 23% at the higher level, while maths was weaker at 54% expected and just 8% at the higher threshold. The average maths scaled score was 100, with reading slightly ahead at 103. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2016 rated it Good overall, and an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour all judged Good.

Facilities include an outdoor playground, a forest school area, music rooms, a dining hall and a chapel, which is unusual for a state primary. Sports on offer are rounders, cricket, cross country and football, and clubs include art, drama and eco club. The school has identified SEND provision for pupils with specific learning difficulties (including dyslexia), speech, language and communication needs, social and emotional mental health difficulties, and other disabilities. This is a school that suits families who want a genuinely local village primary with a strong community feel, but who are prepared for the reality that getting a place is far from guaranteed. The oversubscription figures suggest it is a popular choice among parents who value its small size, Good Ofsted rating and the forest school offering, but those outside the immediate catchment should consider it a high-risk application.

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