Mendham Primary School, Harleston
Mendham Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Harleston, part of Consortium Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 73rd-highest of the 225 schools in Suffolk with published results, and 5,775th of 14,452 across England. It was 80% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Suffolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Mendham Primary School in detail
Mendham Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Mendham Primary is a small rural primary school, sitting on the Norfolk and Suffolk county borders. The school is surrounded by countryside, the river, birds singing and horses passing by daily. Our school has around 60 pupils each one with their own unique character, each amazing and all equally important."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at Mendham 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 89% in reading and 78% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Mendham Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 4 families put Mendham Primary School as their first choice and 10 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Mendham Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Mendham Primary School are Alburgh With Denton Church of England Primary Academy (2.4 miles, 75% reading, 63% maths); Fressingfield Church of England Primary School (3.7 miles, Good, 71% reading, 50% maths); Pulham Church of England Primary Academy (4.9 miles); and Earsham Church of England Primary Academy (5.1 miles, 73% reading, 82% maths).
Mendham Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.
Alburgh With Denton Church of England Primary AcademyFressingfield Church of England Primary SchoolPulham Church of England Primary AcademyEarsham Church of England Primary Academy
The trust
Mendham Primary School is one of 14 schools run by Consortium Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 48% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 15 pupils (26.3%) received SEN support and 5 (8.8%) 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
Mendham Primary School had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 8 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 Mendham Primary School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Munnings Cottages (adjacent), 90 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
Mendham Primary 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; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Mendham Primary School is a friendly place. Pupils play well together during social times. They sit, chat and eat sensibly at lunch. They respond well to teachers' guidance in lessons. They listen and behave respectfully. They join in with lesson discussions confidently. In the early years, children are interested in their learning and enthusiastically join in with the well-planned activities. Pupils feel safe and are safe here.
Pupils benefit from the school's high ambitions. The school is clear about what pupils should learn and when. Their knowledge builds over time. Pupils behave and are taught well. Consequently, they learn and achieve well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school clearly sets out the knowledge pupils need to learn and the order in which this is taught. This means teachers know what to teach and when. Therefore, pupils can understand new ideas by building on what they already know. This starts in the early years, meaning children are well prepared for key stage 1. This continues through to Year 6.
Teachers teach the curriculum well. They use the curriculum documentation effectively to make sure pupils learn what they should. They check that pupils understand what they have been taught. They use their understanding of what pupils have learned to adapt their future lessons. As a result of this well-considered curriculum, effective teaching and helpful assessment, pupils learn well.
From Ofsted's June 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
33.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 78% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 89% to 60% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
14.3
Avg class size
10.0
Infant (KS1)
17.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Mendham Primary School
Term dates
Mendham Primary 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 Mendham Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mendham Primary 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)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
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 Mendham Primary School
Will you get a place at Mendham Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Mendham Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Mendham Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Mendham Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Suffolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Mendham Primary 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
80%
Available places
56 pupils
70 places
14 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Harleston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Harleston
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
35.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
57
Total Pupils
35
Boys
22
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
8.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,508
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£8,638
Per pupil
£503k
Total funding
£23k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
22.6%
Persistent absence
53
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Mendham Primary School
Questions parents ask about Mendham Primary School
What are SATs results like at Mendham Primary School?
Of the pupils at Mendham Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is Mendham Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Mendham Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Mendham Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Mendham Primary 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 Mendham Primary School?
Mendham Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 80% of its 70 places.
How big are the classes at Mendham Primary School?
Classes at Mendham Primary School average 14.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Mendham Primary School?
Mendham Primary School has around 57 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Mendham Primary School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at Mendham Primary School in 2024/25. 22.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mendham Primary School?
Apply through Suffolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Mendham Primary 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 Mendham Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Suffolk is 4 (the median across 365 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Mendham Primary School?
Mendham Primary School is at Mendham, Harleston, Norfolk, IP20 0NJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)