Recreation Road Infant School, Norwich

In its own words: "Our Core Purpose guides our decision-making and future direction. It defines why we believe we’re here as a school. It’s also the compass we use to stop us from losing our way. Our Core Purpose is to: Build strong foundations for a lifelong love of learning. Our school’s guiding principle is, We Work As A Team ."

For September 2026 entry, 98 families put Recreation Road Infant School as their first choice and 175 named it as one of their preferences, for 90 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Recreation Road Infant School are Avenue Junior School (0.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 67% maths); St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 79% reading, 77% maths); Colman Infant School (0.6 miles); and Colman Junior School (0.6 miles, 72% reading, 76% maths).

71 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Recreation Road Infant School (as of September 2025): 79% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (86%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).

4.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 25.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (74%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 38 pupils (11.6%) received SEN support and 7 (2.1%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Recreation Road (adjacent), 130 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Recreation Road Infant School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 491 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Recreation Road Infant School issued 11 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Recreation Road Infant School are City Academy Norwich (0.9 miles); Jane Austen College (1 mile); City of Norwich School, An Ormiston Academy (1.1 miles); and Notre Dame High School, Norwich (1.2 miles).