Dell Primary School, Lowestoft

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades Dell Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have a detailed overview of attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a clear and ambitious vision for the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and detailed understanding of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, those who are disadvantaged and those who are known or previously known to social care."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have successfully navigated a recent period of change in senior leadership."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have a sharp vision for pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement in national assessments varies."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders typically have an accurate understanding of curriculum and teaching."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure the curriculum is adapted more precisely across subjects so that pupils, including those with higher prior attainment, build securely on prior learning"; "Leaders should strengthen staff expertise across the curriculum so that all subjects are taught effectively. This includes the teaching of pupils to develop secure handwriting skills and ensure they receive timely support where needed so that they write fluently and accurately"; "Leaders should ensure that recent improvements in writing and mathematics are embedded consistently so that pupils achieve well by the end of key stage 2".

In 2025, 75% of Year 6 pupils at Dell Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 69% in reading and 74% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 33 families put Dell Primary School as their first choice and 49 named it as one of their preferences, for 34 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Dell Primary School are Elm Tree Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 94% reading, 91% maths); Westwood Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 82% reading, 82% maths); Phoenix St Peter Academy (1 mile, Requires improvement, 68% reading, 74% maths); and Oulton Broad Primary School (1 mile, Outstanding, 95% reading, 86% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Dell Primary School.

Dell Primary School is one of 12 schools run by Evolution Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 64% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 36 pupils (12.4%) received SEN support and 18 (6.2%) 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 autism.

Dell Primary School provides for pupils with speech, language and communication needs.

Dell Primary School had 21 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Entrance2, about 280 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dixon Drive (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 92 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Dell Primary School issued 23 suspensions, 7.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Dell Primary School are East Point Academy (0.7 miles) and Pakefield High School (1.5 miles).