St Margaret's Primary Academy, Lowestoft

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades St Margaret's Primary Academy on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's wide-ranging personal development programme is carefully planned and well led."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils' achievement shows an improving picture over time."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have thoughtfully revised their approach to attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum, which they have adapted to reflect the context of the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders make thoughtful decisions about the curriculum and provision in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school is welcoming and inclusive."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders provide clear and purposeful leadership."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers check pupils' understanding across the curriculum and address misconceptions quickly"; "Leaders should ensure consistency in the adaptations provided across the curriculum to ensure that all pupils succeed"; "Leaders should continue to work with parents and carers to encourage them to take up the support available".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Margaret's! Our core purpose is encapsulated in our statement of intent; 'Unlocking Potential; Transforming Lives'. We believe in spotting the talents and skills of every individual and helping them to make the progress in their learning and personal development so that they can go on to achieve their dreams."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, choir, cooking, gardening and book club.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care, from £4 per session.

In 2025, 56% of Year 6 pupils at St Margaret's Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 63% 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 75% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 36 families put St Margaret's Primary Academy as their first choice and 63 named it as one of their preferences, for 37 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 Margaret's Primary Academy are Northfield St Nicholas Primary Academy (0.1 miles, Good, 73% reading, 78% maths); Poplars Community Primary School (0.2 miles, Requires improvement, 83% reading, 87% maths); Roman Hill Primary School (0.5 miles, Inadequate, 48% reading, 45% maths); and Woods Loke Primary School (1 mile, Outstanding, 83% reading, 78% maths).

St Margaret's Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Margaret's Primary Academy is one of 65 schools run by Reach2 Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 66% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

45.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 12.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (7%).

St Margaret's Primary Academy had 23 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Lowestoft Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Margarets CP School (opposite), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Margaret's Primary Academy 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 311 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Margaret's Primary Academy issued 144 suspensions, 37 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Margaret's Primary Academy are Ormiston Denes Academy (0.3 miles); Learning Support, Northern Area Education Office (0.4 miles); Benjamin Britten Academy of Music and Mathematics (1 mile); and East Point Academy (1.5 miles).