Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School, Norwich

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 1 expected standard, 4 needs attention and 2 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils typically attend the school well."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "More work needs to be done to ensure that pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are taught a curriculum that is suitably adapted to their needs and builds on their previous learning."

Early years - Needs attention. "The early years curriculum is not coherently planned and sequenced across Nursery and Reception."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Within lessons, teaching does not routinely provide appropriate adaptations to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Personal development and wellbeing - Needs attention. "The school's personal development programme has not been consistently implemented."

Achievement - Urgent improvement. "Pupils have not achieved well enough for several years."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Over time, leaders have not addressed the improvements that the school has urgently needed."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the early years curriculum is coherently planned and taught so children build their knowledge securely across all areas of learning"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop the foundational knowledge they need to be well prepared for their next stage of education"; "Leaders should ensure that staff provide appropriate support and adaptations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities so that barriers to learning are reduced"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers have the subject knowledge and skills they need to teach the curriculum consistently well, including effective use of assessment so that gaps in pupils' knowledge are addressed swiftly"; "School leaders and governors should strengthen their strategic oversight so that decisions consistently support positive outcomes for all pupils. This includes careful consideration and review of the use of flexi-schooling so that as many pupils as possible benefit from full-time education".

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include yoga, STEM and art.

In 2024, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 56% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 67% in Norfolk and 76% and 74% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 8 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School are Aldborough Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); Colby Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 96% reading, 96% maths); St Michael's Church of England VA Primary and Nursery School (2.7 miles, Good, 69% reading, 63% maths); and Bure Valley School (3.1 miles, Good, 78% reading, 81% maths).

25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 84% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (64%).

Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 10 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Aylsham (Bure Valley Railway), about 3 miles away in a straight line.

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).

In 2024/25, Erpingham Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 7.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.