Drake Primary School, Thetford

Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Drake Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard, 3 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.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children build strong relationships with staff and school leaders."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders place a strong emphasis on pupils' personal development."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance is broadly in line with the national averages."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are committed to providing an inclusive education for every pupil."

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

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' progress through the curriculum is variable."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There is variability in the quality of teaching in key stage 1 and key stage 2."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff in key stage 1 and key stage 2 have the subject knowledge and expertise that they need to teach all subjects effectively, so that pupils in Year 1 and beyond learn successfully across the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment effectively in key stage 1 and key stage 2 to precisely identify important gaps in pupils' knowledge, so that these can be addressed swiftly"; "Those responsible for governance should continue to evaluate the impact of leaders' work to improve the curriculum and teaching, particularly in relation to writing and mathematics, so pupils achieve better in national assessments".

In its own words: "Drake Primary School is situated on the Fairfields Estate situated on the northern fringe of the town of Thetford. Thetford is famed for its forest and excellent location and transport links but it was once one of the largest and most influential towns in early medieval England. As a result, the area is of significant historical interest."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care, from £8.00 per day.

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils at Drake Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 52% 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 (67% in reading, 60% in maths).

For September 2026 entry, 68 families put Drake Primary School as their first choice and 106 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Drake Primary School are Admirals Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 67% maths); Raleigh Infant Academy (0.2 miles, Good); Norwich Road Academy (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 72% reading, 72% maths); and The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 48% reading, 48% maths).

Drake Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

65 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Drake Primary School (as of April 2026): 65% would recommend the school, 68% say their child is happy there and 10% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (68%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (10%).

12.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 54 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 33 (8%) 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.

Drake Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.

Drake Primary School had 26 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Thetford Rail Station, about 800 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Glebe Close (opposite), 260 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 161 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson 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, Drake Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 2.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.