St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy, Norwich
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Norwich, part of The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 72nd-highest of the 102 schools in Norwich with published results, and 11,486th of 14,452 across England. It was 66% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Capacity
- 66% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 53% in reading and 41% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy
Across Norfolk, 94% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Norfolk lodged 64 appeals against primary school offers; 51 reached a hearing and 5 succeeded (9.8% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy are Manor Field Infant and Nursery School (0.3 miles, Good); Forncett St Peter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 67% reading, 33% maths); Tasburgh Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 81% reading, 76% maths); and Aslacton Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 75% maths).
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Manor Field Infant and Nursery SchoolForncett St Peter Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolTasburgh Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolAslacton Primary School
The trust
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy is one of 19 schools run by The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
All 19 schools in The Diocese of Norwich St Benet's Multi-Academy Trust
What parents say
119 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 79% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (79%).
Who goes there
8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 41 pupils (27.7%) received SEN support and 15 (10.1%) 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.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Council Offices (opposite), 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy issued 39 suspensions, 24.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Mary's is a calm, happy school where pupils take pride in their work and concentrate well. The school has exceptionally high expectations of behaviour, and pupils are very accepting and considerate of each other. All pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment activities built into the timetable, from sports clubs to community visits, helping them develop into responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding - pupils are exceptionally well-behaved and the 'reflections' approach has significantly reduced suspensions
- Personal development is outstanding - pupils participate in abundant enrichment activities and are well-prepared for life in modern Britain
- Reading is taught very effectively - most pupils become confident, fluent readers who enjoy selecting books from the library
- SEND support is highly effective - the school quickly identifies needs and provides inclusive provision to help all pupils access the curriculum
- Leadership has successfully turned the school around since the previous inspection with well-trained staff and strong assessment practices
Areas for Improvement
- In a few subjects, teachers move too quickly through the curriculum, meaning some pupils do not develop full depth of understanding or skills proficiency
- Recent published outcomes do not yet fully reflect the improvements the school has made
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective with strong systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
After-school sports clubs, visits to the elderly with craft activities, prayer space and reflection activities, ethos and curriculum ambassador roles, Victory in Europe Day community celebration
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy has made significant improvements since the last inspection and now provides a good quality of education. Pupils are happy, well-behaved, and benefit from a calm, supportive environment with effective support for those with special educational needs.
At a Glance
21.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
119 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 53% to 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 41% to 62% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 55% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.7
Avg class size
24.7
KS2
6
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy is in Norfolk; for families living there:
Apply to Norfolk for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
66%
Available places
158 pupils
240 places
82 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Norwich
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Norwich
Across Norfolk council
Places available
9,547
Applications
7,482
Got 1st preference
94.4%
Got preferred school
98.7%
All primary applications across Norfolk council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
41
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
37.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
148
Total Pupils
77
Boys
71
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
18.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,111
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,365
Per pupil
£962k
Total funding
£59k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
14.3%
Persistent absence
168
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy
Questions parents ask about St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy
What are SATs results like at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
Of the pupils at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 62% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 66% of its 240 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
Classes at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy average 24.7 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy has around 148 pupils on roll. 22% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
5.2% of sessions were missed at St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy in 2024/25. 14.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Norfolk is 4 (the median across 462 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy?
St Mary's Church of England Junior Academy is at Swan Lane, Long Stratton, Norwich, Norfolk, NR15 2UY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)