Handford Hall Primary School, Ipswich

From the headteacher's welcome: "May I take this opportunity to welcome you and your child to Handford Hall Primary School. The staff and I hope this will mark the beginning of a long and happy relationship with us. We are a unique school with a strong, shared ethos."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, tennis, athletics, basketball, badminton, karate, drama, choir, Lego and art.

In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at Handford Hall Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 74% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Handford Hall Primary School as their first choice and 67 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 Handford Hall Primary School are Ranelagh Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 53% reading, 44% maths); Springfield Junior School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 65% reading, 70% maths); Springfield Infant School and Nursery (0.4 miles, Good); and St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich (0.5 miles, Good, 57% reading, 60% maths).

Handford Hall Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Handford Hall Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Orwell Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

75.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (11%), Black (10%) and other ethnic groups (9%).

In 2026, 114 pupils (31.7%) received SEN support and 9 (2.5%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sir John Mills Theatre (adjacent), 220 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Handford Hall Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 463 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Handford Hall Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 3.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Handford Hall Primary School are Westbourne Academy (1.1 miles); Chantry Academy (1.2 miles); Learning Support, Southern Area Education Office (1.2 miles); and Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy (1.4 miles).