St Helen's Primary School, Ipswich

In its own words: "St. Helen's Primary School and Nursery is a wonderful 3 storey Georgian (1914) school set in the heart of Ipswich, a short walk from Christchurch Park and the main high street. Being a town school, we serve a diverse population and embrace the cultural heritage this provides. We are a two-form entry primary school, with 30 pupils in each class."

From the headteacher's welcome: "In 2016, I visited the school for the first time and immediately fell in love with everything it stood for; the beauty of the building; the energy in each class and the amazingly diverse and inspiring community that embraced it. Becoming Head teacher in such a school was the icing on the cake."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, gymnastics, judo and drama.

The school runs after-school care, from £1.50 per session.

In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at St Helen's Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 77% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 38 families put St Helen's Primary School as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 39 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 Helen's Primary School are St Margaret's CEVAP School, Ipswich (0.3 miles, Good, 68% reading, 72% maths); Clifford Community Primary School & Nursery (0.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 72% maths); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ipswich (0.5 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 91% maths); and St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich (0.8 miles, Good, 57% reading, 60% maths).

St Helen's Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Helen's Primary 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.

50.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (33%), Asian (20%) and Mixed (10%).

The nearest railway station is Entrance2, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dove Street (opposite), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Helen's Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 479 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Helen's Primary School issued 28 suspensions, 6.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Helen's Primary School are Learning Support, Southern Area Education Office (0.1 miles); Northgate High School (1.2 miles); Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy (1.2 miles); and Copleston High School (1.2 miles).