Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy, King's Lynn
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in King's Lynn, part of The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2018. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 38th-highest of the 40 schools in King's Lynn with published results, and 14,274th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2018)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy in detail
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Welcome to Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy; we are proud to be in a strong Federation with our two other schools - Sporle C of E Primary Academy and Narborough C of E Primary Academy. Together we make up The Nar Valley Federation of Church Academies."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 42% of Year 6 pupils at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 42% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 58% in reading and 42% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy as their first choice and 9 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy are Sporle Church of England Primary Academy (3.2 miles, Good, 38% reading, 38% maths); Swaffham Meadow Primary School (3.9 miles, 27% reading, 13% maths); Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery School (4.2 miles, Good, 62% reading, 41% maths); and Narborough Church of England Primary Academy (4.6 miles, Good, 69% reading, 56% maths).
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Sporle Church of England Primary AcademySwaffham Meadow Primary SchoolHeartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery SchoolNarborough Church of England Primary Academy
The trust
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy is one of 42 schools run by The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 42 schools in The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 65% would recommend the school, 67% say their child is happy there and 53% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (79%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (53%).
Who goes there
34.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 8.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 20 pupils (23.3%) received SEN support and 12 (14%) 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.
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Staffing
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 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 Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Budgens (opposite), 240 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy 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 multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2018, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school creates a warm, welcoming community where children feel safe and valued. Staff build strong relationships with pupils and their families, helping every child succeed - from early phonics learning through to support for those with additional needs. The school celebrates good behaviour and values through daily assemblies and rewards, making children want to do their best.
Key Strengths
- Calm, respectful environment with positive relationships between staff and pupils
- Strong phonics teaching and reading support, especially for pupils who need to catch up
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, including transition help for high school
- High attendance rates achieved through creative, family-focused approaches
- Well-trained teachers who collaborate through trust networks to teach subjects effectively
Areas for Improvement
- New writing techniques are inconsistently applied across the school, meaning some pupils don't benefit as much as they could
- Staff need more confidence and expertise to help pupils write with accuracy and fluency
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with school leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Leadership roles, range of extra-curricular activities, community engagement events, residential trips
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. The school provides a calm, supportive environment where pupils develop confidence, enjoy learning, and benefit from a broad curriculum with strong phonics and reading support.
At a Glance
34.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
43 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 58% to 42% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 42% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 25% to 42% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.3
Avg class size
34.0
KS2
3
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy for 2016 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
95%
Near capacity
73 pupils
77 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - King's Lynn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for King's Lynn
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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
20
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
37.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
86
Total Pupils
45
Boys
41
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
17.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£42,326
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,643
Per pupil
£613k
Total funding
£26k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
11.5%
Persistent absence
61
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 42% reached the expected standard in reading and 42% did so in maths.
What is Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2018, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Classes at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy average 28.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy has around 86 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy provides for pupils with autism and severe learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy in 2024/25. 11.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy 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 Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy?
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy is at Back Lane, Castle Acre, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE32 2AR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)