Southtown Primary School, Great Yarmouth

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Southtown Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders place a clear focus on ensuring that all pupils feel welcome and part of the school community."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate professionalism and set high expectations, which are shared across the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide clear and effective leadership of personal development and wellbeing."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have not achieved as well as they should."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Many pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, do not attend as regularly as they should."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The curriculum is not taught consistently well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should secure greater consistency in high-quality teaching, particularly in writing and mathematics, so that pupils achieve well by the end of key stage 2"; "Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment information effectively to identify key gaps in pupils' knowledge and address misconceptions so they build on their learning"; "Leaders should check that teachers adapt lessons promptly when pupils do not understand new learning so pupils progress as well as possible"; "Leaders should strengthen attendance procedures so that attendance improves, persistent absence reduces and pupils do not miss essential learning time".

In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at Southtown Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 54% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 48% in reading and 40% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Southtown Primary School as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Southtown Primary School are Edward Worlledge Ormiston Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 62% reading, 53% maths); Cobholm Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 64% reading, 77% maths); St. George's Primary School & St. George's Nursery School, Great Yarmouth (0.7 miles, Good, 47% reading, 57% maths); and St Nicholas Priory CofE VA Primary School and Nursery (0.8 miles, Good, 64% reading, 78% maths).

Southtown Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Southtown Primary School is one of 7 schools run by Kingfisher Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 37% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

44.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 32.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%) and Mixed (8%).

In 2026, 41 pupils (22.4%) received SEN support and 17 (9.3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Southtown Primary School has a resourced provision for speech, language and communication needs: 10 places, 8 pupils on roll.

Southtown Primary School had 14 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Great Yarmouth Rail Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tesco Petrol Station (opposite), 180 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Southtown Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 591 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Southtown Primary School issued 85 suspensions, 44.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Southtown Primary School are Visiting Teacher Service East at Education Services Centre (1 mile), Lynn Grove Academy (1.3 miles) and Great Yarmouth Charter Academy (1.4 miles).