Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy, Diss
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Diss, part of The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 7 schools in Diss with published results, and 11,486th of 14,452 across England. It was 70% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 58% of Year 6 pupils at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 83% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy as their first choice and 16 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy are Hopton Church of England Primary Academy (1.7 miles); St Andrew's CofE VA Primary School, Lopham (2.2 miles, Requires improvement, 75% reading, 63% maths); East Harling Primary School and Nursery (3 miles, Good, 70% reading, 63% maths); and Kenninghall Primary School (3.3 miles, Good, 88% reading, 88% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy.
Hopton Church of England Primary AcademySt Andrew's CofE VA Primary School, LophamEast Harling Primary School and NurseryKenninghall Primary School
The trust
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy is one of 19 schools run by The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
All 19 schools in The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust
Who goes there
15.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (90%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 7 pupils (9.7%) received SEN support and 2 (2.8%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fox (adjacent), 230 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy 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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2023 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education.
At a Glance
15.3%
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 declined from 83% to 58% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 83% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 58% to 67% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
18.3
Avg class size
13.0
Infant (KS1)
21.0
KS2
3
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy for 2021 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
70%
Available places
74 pupils
105 places
31 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Diss
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Diss
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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
7
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
12.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
72
Total Pupils
25
Boys
47
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
14.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,208
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,304
Per pupil
£573k
Total funding
£17k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.3%
Overall absence
17.6%
Persistent absence
74
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 58% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2023.
What is the catchment area for Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 70% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Classes at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy average 18.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy has around 72 pupils on roll. 15% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
7.3% of sessions were missed at Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy in 2024/25. 17.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy 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 Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was 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 Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy?
Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy is at Church Road, Garboldisham, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 2SE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)