The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy, Thetford
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Thetford, part of The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2022. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 15th-highest of the 17 schools in Thetford with published results, and 14,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2022)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy in detail
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our school. In this video our children take you on a tour of our school, showing what life is like behind the school gates. At Bishop's we are committed to preparing our children in all the ways we can to live life in all its fullness."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football and knitting.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 48% of Year 6 pupils at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 48% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 39% in reading and 28% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 31 families put The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy as their first choice and 43 named it as one of their preferences, for 33 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy are Redcastle Family School (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 85% maths); Norwich Road Academy (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, 72% reading, 72% maths); Queensway Junior Academy (0.8 miles, 65% reading, 59% maths); and Queensway Infant Academy (0.8 miles).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy.
Redcastle Family SchoolNorwich Road AcademyQueensway Junior AcademyQueensway Infant Academy
The trust
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy is one of 42 schools run by The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 52% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 42 schools in The Diocese of Norwich Education and Academies Trust
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy (as of September 2025): 73% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (93%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).
Who goes there
56.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 29.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Thetford Rail Station, about 700 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Coventry Way (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Bishop's Church of England 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 206 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy issued 102 suspensions, 28.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school creates a calm, supportive environment where behaviour is good and pupils are enthusiastic about learning. Reading is taught really well with consistent phonics instruction and extra help for pupils who need it. The school goes the extra mile to support families with attendance and provides plenty of outdoor play opportunities including dens, climbing equipment and wooded areas to explore.
Key Strengths
- Reading is taught using a highly consistent approach with precise phonics instruction and catch-up sessions for pupils who need extra support
- Strong behaviour expectations and a calm learning environment where pupils can concentrate on their work
- Effective systems for checking pupils' progress in reading and mathematics, with quick identification and addressing of learning gaps
- Early years provision is good, with children developing speaking skills and physical abilities needed for writing
- Excellent attendance support for families, resulting in significant improvement from very low previous levels
Areas for Improvement
- Writing is not as strong as reading and mathematics - pupils lack opportunities to practise writing at length and do not develop fluent handwriting skills
- Large gaps in pupils' learning in subjects other than reading and mathematics due to previous missed learning, which slows progress through the curriculum
- Teaching quality in foundation subjects (history, science, etc.) needs to be stronger so pupils achieve well across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders prioritising pupil safety and wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
School council, play leaders, parachute games, outdoor exploration in wooded areas, climbing and balancing activities, trips to local area
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy requires improvement in the quality of education, though the school is making rapid progress with improvements since the previous inspection. Leaders are ambitious and have put effective systems in place to evaluate the school's work.
At a Glance
56.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 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 39% to 48% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 28% to 48% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 33% to 46% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.3
Avg class size
20.3
Infant (KS1)
27.6
KS2
12
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy.
- Premier Redcastle Holiday Club710m away · Not yet graded
- Next Level Camps Ltd820m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Bishop's Church of England Primary 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
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 8 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
1 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
Your chances of a place at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
Will you get a place at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Norfolk got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
322 pupils
400 places
78 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Thetford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Thetford
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.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
61
SEN Support
20
EHC Plans
24.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
330
Total Pupils
170
Boys
160
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
18.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,897
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,128
Per pupil
£2415k
Total funding
£301k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.8%
Overall absence
22.2%
Persistent absence
306
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
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 48% reached the expected standard in reading and 48% did so in maths.
What is The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2022, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When The Bishop's Church of England Primary 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 The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 400 places.
How big are the classes at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
Classes at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy average 23.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy has around 330 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
7.8% of sessions were missed at The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy in 2024/25. 22.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy: Premier Redcastle Holiday Club (710m away, registered, not yet graded) and Next Level Camps Ltd (820m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 8 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 1 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 The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy?
The Bishop's Church of England Primary Academy is at Canterbury Way, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 1EB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)