St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley, Dereham

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' attendance is in line with schools nationally."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years are fully part of the school."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that any additional needs that pupils may have are identified from a range of sources, including discussions with teachers and parental concerns."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors know their school well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The curriculum for personal development is known as relationships and life skills (RLS)."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over the last 3 years, too many pupils have left the school without the appropriate knowledge and skills for their age, particularly in writing."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Since the previous inspection, the school has adopted a curriculum that ensures that all pupils are taught the appropriate content, in the right sequence, for their age."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching improves pupils' basic writing skills in letter formation, handwriting, spelling and the use of punctuation"; "Leaders should ensure that the revised approach to teaching basic mathematics knowledge, such as multiplication tables, results in pupils having secure knowledge of these"; "Leaders should ensure that the proportion of pupils achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of Year 6 increases".

In its own words: "To encourage lifelong learning, that challenges, engages, inspires and values every individual. We aim to create a safe and caring learning environment where learning is fun and interactive. We value every member of our community and are continually working to further develop effective partnerships between parents, teacher, learners and the wider community."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:50am and after-school care.

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (63% in reading, 63% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 18 families put St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley as their first choice and 28 named it as one of their preferences, for 18 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 St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley are Swanton Morley VC Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 66% maths); North Elmham Church of England Primary Academy & Nursery (2.4 miles, 50% reading, 33% maths); King's Park Infant School, Dereham (2.6 miles, Good); and Dereham Church of England Infant and Nursery Academy (2.7 miles).

St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Dereham (Mid Norfolk Railway), about 2.9 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is school (opposite), 190 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).

In 2024/25, St Mary's Community Primary School, Beetley issued 8 suspensions, 4.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.