St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich, Ipswich

From the headteacher's welcome: "St Matthew's is a large, multicultural school in the heart of Ipswich. We have close links with St Matthew's church, which is just next door, and our Christian ethos underpins everything that we do."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, cricket, dance, choir, orchestra, chess, Lego and cooking.

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

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils at St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Suffolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 82% in reading and 80% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 48 families put St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich as their first choice and 82 named it as one of their preferences, for 51 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 Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich are Handford Hall Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 66% reading, 70% maths); St Margaret's CEVAP School, Ipswich (0.6 miles, Good, 68% reading, 72% maths); Ranelagh Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 53% reading, 44% maths); and St Helen's Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 66% reading, 68% maths).

St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich is one of 21 schools run by St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

33.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 61.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (16%), Black (16%) and Asian (13%).

In 2026, 31 pupils (7.6%) received SEN support and 9 (2.2%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Entrance, about 910 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wolsey Theatre (opposite), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 522 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Suffolk (32), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich issued 16 suspensions, 4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Matthew's Church of England Primary School, Ipswich are Learning Support, Southern Area Education Office (0.7 miles); Stoke High School - Ormiston Academy (1.1 miles); Chantry Academy (1.2 miles); and Westbourne Academy (1.5 miles).