Ilketshall St Lawrence School, Beccles
Ilketshall St Lawrence School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Beccles, part of Asset Education. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, ended in a report card: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Before that it was rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2013. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 9 schools in Beccles with published results, and 12,428th of 14,452 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted report card
- 5 of 7 areas strong or better
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Suffolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Ilketshall St Lawrence School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 3 March 2026 inspection grades Ilketshall St Lawrence School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils enjoy coming to school and attend well."
Early years - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that children get off to the best possible start."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion sits at the heart of the school's ethos."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders know the school, staff and pupils well."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Personal, social and health education and leaders' focus on wellbeing underpin the curriculum and pupils' personal development."
Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils progress securely through the curriculum and over time."
Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "The curriculum is broad and ambitious."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff support pupils to develop their handwriting and spelling skills across all subjects"; "Leaders should strengthen consistency in the approaches used to teach the curriculum in some subjects, so that expectations for pupils' written work are applied uniformly and written outcomes reflect pupils' secure knowledge as they progress through the school".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Ilketshall St Lawrence School in its own words
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include tennis, multi-sports, choir, guitar, gardening, art and cheerleading.
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 56% of Year 6 pupils at Ilketshall St Lawrence School reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 92% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Ilketshall St Lawrence School
For September 2026 entry, 11 families put Ilketshall St Lawrence School as their first choice and 24 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 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 Ilketshall St Lawrence School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Ilketshall St Lawrence School are Ringsfield Church of England Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 50% reading, 71% maths); Edgar Sewter Community Primary School (3.2 miles, Good, 59% reading, 50% maths); Brampton Church of England Primary School (3.5 miles, Good, 67% reading, 67% maths); and Holton St Peter Community Primary School (3.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 69% maths).
Ilketshall St Lawrence School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Ringsfield Church of England Primary SchoolEdgar Sewter Community Primary SchoolBrampton Church of England Primary SchoolHolton St Peter Community Primary School
The trust
Ilketshall St Lawrence School is one of 16 schools run by Asset Education, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 55% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
48 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ilketshall St Lawrence School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 40% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (40%).
Who goes there
1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 18 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 3 (3%) 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 autism.
Staffing
Ilketshall St Lawrence School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Brampton (Suffolk) Rail Station, about 1.9 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is School (e-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32).
Suspensions and exclusions
Ilketshall St Lawrence School 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 multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 7 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at Ilketshall St Lawrence School
Pupils are happy, positive and active members of their school community. Their learning is memorable. Exciting opportunities deepen their knowledge and understanding. They develop their knowledge securely across the curriculum. Pupils enjoy learning, attend well and take pride in their progress. Pupils are well supported to understand and live up to the school aims for pupils to be independent, individual, informed and invested. Pupils explain how these values help them in their education and life. They recognise the importance of behaving in ways that reflect these expectations. Staff model teamwork and cooperation. They ensure pupils receive the care and support they need and work proactively to reduce barriers to learning. This helps all pupils succeed, including those who are disadvantaged or have special educational needs and/or disabilities. Pupils understand the rules of being ready, respectful and safe. They know what bullying is, how to report concerns and trust staff to help them. From the moment children start school, staff help them develop positive attitudes to learning. In the early years, children benefit from rich learning opportunities. They learn to share, collaborate and communicate. Older pupils reflect thoughtfully and discuss a wide range of subjects, from abstract ideas to complex problem-solving. Pupils typically achieve well because teachers identify and provide the right help. All pupils can discuss their strengths, areas for improvement and personal goals. Pupils value the respectful and caring relationships they build with staff and with each other. In lessons, they show motivation and engagement and feel confident to ask questions. Pupils know what it means to be active citizens in school and the wider community. They enjoy a wide range of opportunities beyond the academic curriculum, which broaden their knowledge and interests. Playtimes and lunchtimes offer chances to play, socialise, explore outdoors or relax with friends.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders should ensure that staff support pupils to develop their handwriting and spelling skills across all subjects.
- Leaders should strengthen consistency in the approaches used to teach the curriculum in some subjects, so that expectations for pupils' written work are applied uniformly and written outcomes reflect pupils' secure knowledge as they progress through the school.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 3 March 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school genuinely cares about every child's wellbeing and development as a whole person. With excellent attendance and behaviour, a strong curriculum focused on reading and speaking skills, and outstanding support for children with additional needs, your child will thrive in a happy, inclusive community where learning feels memorable and exciting.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional attendance and behaviour - pupils rarely absent and bullying is extremely rare
- Strong inclusion practices with early identification of needs and effective support for all pupils
- High-quality early years provision with strong phonics teaching and early literacy focus
- Consistent safeguarding culture where all staff take responsibility
- Well-designed curriculum with clear focus on speaking, listening and reading for pleasure
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent application of agreed approaches across some subjects beyond English and mathematics
- Pupils' spelling and handwriting skills not always applied effectively across the wider curriculum
- Need to ensure pupils present work with equal care in all subjects as they do in English and mathematics
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and managed, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Forest play, sports clubs, artistic clubs, creative clubs, national and local visits, debates, discussions, fundraising events, '50 things to do before you leave Ilketshall' programme
Ilketshall St Lawrence School is a strong performing school where pupils enjoy coming to school, attend well, and achieve securely across the curriculum. Leaders prioritize wellbeing, inclusion, and building a love of learning within a supportive community.
At a Glance
17.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
48 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 56% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 85% to 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 92% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.8
Avg class size
22.0
Infant (KS1)
27.5
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Ilketshall St Lawrence School
Term dates
Ilketshall St Lawrence School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Suffolk's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Ilketshall St Lawrence School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Ilketshall St Lawrence School is in Suffolk; for families living there:
Apply to Suffolk 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
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
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, 1 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 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 Ilketshall St Lawrence School
Will you get a place at Ilketshall St Lawrence School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Ilketshall St Lawrence School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Ilketshall St Lawrence School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Ilketshall St Lawrence School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Suffolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Ilketshall St Lawrence School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Suffolk 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
96%
Near capacity
101 pupils
105 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Beccles
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Beccles
Across Suffolk council
Places available
8,806
Applications
6,492
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.1%
All primary applications across Suffolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
21.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
99
Total Pupils
45
Boys
54
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
14.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,702
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,164
Per pupil
£702k
Total funding
£27k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
4.5%
Persistent absence
88
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Ilketshall St Lawrence School
What are SATs results like at Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
Of the pupils at Ilketshall St Lawrence School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 56% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is Ilketshall St Lawrence School's Ofsted rating?
Ilketshall St Lawrence School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
No fixed boundary. When Ilketshall St Lawrence School is oversubscribed, Suffolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
Ilketshall St Lawrence School was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
Classes at Ilketshall St Lawrence School average 24.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
Ilketshall St Lawrence School has around 99 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Ilketshall St Lawrence School in 2024/25. 4.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Ilketshall St Lawrence School 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 Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
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, 1 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Ilketshall St Lawrence School?
Ilketshall St Lawrence School is at Hogg Lane, Ilketshall St Lawrence, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 8ND.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)