St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery, Beccles

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 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. "The early years curriculum is well designed."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils who face barriers typically get the help they need."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have put in place a coherent programme for personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils have not achieved well over time."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance has been low over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There is variability in the quality of teaching."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "While new leadership has improved several aspects of the school, teaching and achievement are not as successful as they should be."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure teaching is effective, particularly in designing tasks that help pupils build successfully on their prior learning, and in checking that pupils have secured the intended learning"; "Leaders should work with families to further improve the attendance of disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should develop the precision of their work on inclusion, so that the support for pupils is even more matched to their needs".

In its own words: "We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £150,000 to develop a school-based nursery at St Benet's. This is a significant and exciting step forward, building on the strong foundations already in place across our schools and reflecting our continued commitment to supporting children and families from the earliest stages of education."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils at St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 64% in reading and 43% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 4 families put St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery as their first choice and 9 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 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 St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery are The Albert Pye Community Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 93% reading, 95% maths); Ravensmere Infant School (0.4 miles, Good); Beccles Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 71% reading, 67% maths); and Gillingham St Michael's Church of England Primary Academy (1.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 90% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery.

St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery is one of 11 schools run by St John the Baptist Catholic Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

34.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 11.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (78%), Mixed (9%) and Asian (7%).

In 2026, 15 pupils (21.7%) received SEN support and 3 (4.3%) 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.

St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 870 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Health Centre (adjacent), 210 metres away.

St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Benet's RC Primary School and Nursery are Sir John Leman High School (0.3 miles) and Beccles High School (0.7 miles).