Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Downham Market
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Downham Market. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 5 schools in Downham Market with published results, and 4,824th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.4 first-choice applications for every place. It was 92% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School in detail
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At Denver VC Primary School, we seek to discover and celebrate whatever is good in each individual - Discover, Value, Celebrate and Praise. We value effort as well as achievement and aim to give our children a good academic education whilst also providing opportunities for them to excel in areas such as PE, Music and Drama."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, multi-sports and STEM.
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Denver 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 (75% in reading, 88% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School are Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 86% maths); Nelson Academy (1.2 miles, Good, 70% reading, 67% maths); Wimbotsham and Stow Academy (2.1 miles, Good, 89% reading, 56% maths); and Hilgay Riverside Academy (2.2 miles, Good, 70% reading, 60% maths).
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary SchoolNelson AcademyWimbotsham and Stow AcademyHilgay Riverside Academy
Who goes there
16.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 20 pupils (18.5%) received SEN support and 7 (6.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Downham Market Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church Of St Mary (adjacent), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Denver 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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
16.7%
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 remained stable at around 76% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 75% to 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
13.5
Avg class size
12.3
Infant (KS1)
14.8
KS2
8
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Denver 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
- 5
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 0 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 Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Will you get a place at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Denver 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 Denver 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
92%
Near capacity
109 pupils
119 places
10 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Downham Market
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Downham Market
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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
20
SEN Support
7
EHC Plans
25.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
108
Total Pupils
56
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
6
Teachers
18.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,413
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,145
Per pupil
£737k
Total funding
£27k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.6%
Overall absence
8.5%
Persistent absence
94
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Questions parents ask about Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School
What are SATs results like at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Of the pupils at Denver 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 Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023.
What is the catchment area for Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Denver 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 Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 119 places.
How big are the classes at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Classes at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School average 13.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School has around 108 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
4.6% of sessions were missed at Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School in 2024/25. 8.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Denver 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 Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 0 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 Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School is at 19 Ryston Road, Denver, Downham Market, Norfolk, PE38 0DP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)