Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Thetford
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Thetford. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 17 schools in Thetford with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 105% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Coming up: an open day on Monday 2 November 2026, an open day on Tuesday 3 November 2026, an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 5 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Norfolk
Wraparound care (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (87% in reading, 73% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 18 families put Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 41 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Parker's Church of England Primary Academy (1.5 miles, Good, 58% reading, 25% maths); Watton Junior School (2.7 miles, 49% reading, 44% maths); Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery School (2.8 miles, Good); and Necton VA Primary School (3.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 63% maths).
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Parker's Church of England Primary AcademyWatton Junior SchoolWatton Westfield Infant and Nursery SchoolNecton VA Primary School
Who goes there
8.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 26 pupils (23.9%) received SEN support and 7 (6.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (adjacent), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and drug offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its September 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Personal development, Leadership & management.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Early years.
At a Glance
8.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 87% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 73% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 60% to 53% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.3
Avg class size
14.0
Infant (KS1)
31.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Norfolk got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
105%
Over capacity
110 pupils
105 places
5 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thetford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thetford
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,547
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
26
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
30.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
109
Total Pupils
49
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
15.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,715
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,020
Per pupil
£720k
Total funding
£14k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.0%
Overall absence
10.8%
Persistent absence
93
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 76% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023.
What is the catchment area for Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School was full in 2025, at 105% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 27.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 109 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
5% of sessions were missed at Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 10.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 0 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 0 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at The Oaks, Ashill, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 7AP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)