Diss Infant Academy and Nursery, Diss

Ofsted's report card from its 12 May 2026 inspection grades Diss Infant Academy and Nursery on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' achievement in the phonics screening check at the end of Year 1 is close to the national average and improving."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have revised and reviewed their approaches to attendance since the previous inspection."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a coherent and well-sequenced curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a carefully planned curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Staff know pupils well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a shared vision focused on pupils' wellbeing and achievement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The personal development programme is well sequenced."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff have the confidence to adapt the curriculum and make choices about what to teach based on their knowledge of pupils' starting points, including in the early years"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is consistently taught well through the continued development of teaching approaches within subjects, so pupils deepen their understanding"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers use effective adaptations that enable pupils to achieve consistently well and develop their independence in learning".

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Diss Infant Academy and Nursery as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 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 Diss Infant Academy and Nursery are Diss Church of England Junior Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 70% reading, 70% maths); Palgrave Church of England Primary School (1 mile, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Roydon Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 69% reading, 71% maths); and Scole Church of England Primary Academy (1.8 miles, 86% reading, 86% maths).

Diss Infant Academy and Nursery is one of 19 schools run by The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

13.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 40% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (55%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 20 pupils (17.4%) received SEN support and 7 (6.1%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Diss Rail Station, about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Field House Gardens (opposite), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 97 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Diss Infant Academy and Nursery issued 3 suspensions, 2.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.