Burston Community Primary School, Diss

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Burston Community Primary School on 7 areas: 4 strong standard and 3 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders analyse attendance data at individual, school and trust levels to inform their decisions."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff understand each pupil's needs in detail."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's strengths and context."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders take a strategic and highly effective approach to supporting pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils develop secure knowledge and skills across the breadth of the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders take a strategic approach to curriculum design."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a positive start in the early years."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to support staff to refine teaching approaches and their use of resources, so that pupils build a deep body of subject knowledge across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently identify errors in pupils' written work, including in spelling, so that they can address these swiftly and consistently".

In 2024, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Burston Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 67% in Norfolk and 76% and 74% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Burston Community Primary School as their first choice and 13 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Burston Community Primary School are Dickleburgh Church of England Primary Academy (With Pre-School) (2 miles, Outstanding, 77% reading, 65% maths); Diss Infant Academy and Nursery (2.3 miles, Requires improvement); All Saints Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Winfarthing (2.4 miles, Good, 86% reading, 29% maths); and Diss Church of England Junior Academy (2.4 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths).

Burston Community Primary School is one of 23 schools run by Sapientia Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

3.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 7.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 6 pupils (22.2%) received SEN support and 1 (3.7%) 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.

Burston Community Primary School had 4 teachers in 2026, one for every 6 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Diss Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Crown (opposite), 100 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).

In 2024/25, Burston Community Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 12 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.