Watlington Community Primary School, King's Lynn
Watlington Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in King's Lynn. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 5th-highest of the 40 schools in King's Lynn with published results, and 2,822nd of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Norfolk (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Watlington Community Primary School in detail
Watlington Community Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Watlington is a village in West Norfolk, situated about half-way between King's Lynn and Downham Market. The village has a population of approximately 2700. Road and rail links are both good; the A10 linking King's Lynn with Cambridge runs a mile to the east, and from Watlington station there is an hourly service to Cambridge and London."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Watlington Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 54% in reading and 62% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Watlington Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put Watlington Community Primary School as their first choice and 39 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Watlington Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Watlington Community Primary School are Holy Cross Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 50% reading, 60% maths); Magdalen Academy (1.4 miles, Good, 33% reading, 67% maths); St Germans Academy (2.5 miles, Good, 64% reading, 82% maths); and West Winch Primary School (3.3 miles, Good, 68% reading, 62% maths).
Watlington Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Holy Cross Church of England Primary SchoolMagdalen AcademySt Germans AcademyWest Winch Primary School
Who goes there
5.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 36 pupils (21.3%) received SEN support and 3 (1.8%) 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
The nearest railway station is Watlington Rail Station, about 530 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Telephone Exchange (adjacent), 330 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 7 crimes within a mile of the school, most often other crime, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Norfolk (28).
Suspensions and exclusions
Watlington Community Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from January 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils are happy in school. They welcome newcomers and treat each other kindly. They have positive relationships with staff. This helps them to feel safe. They know who to talk to if something is worrying them. Pupils show respect to their teachers. They show this by confidently answering questions or asking for help in lessons. Pupils listen well to their teachers and try their best in lessons. Pupils' achievement is improving in most subjects.
Pupils behave well in the playground and around the school. They are polite to staff and visitors. Children in the early years have some lessons with pupils in other year groups. In these lessons, they learn skills, classroom routines and how to cooperate with older pupils. As a result, they are well prepared for the transition to their next class.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has worked hard to improve the curriculum. It has ensured that the curriculum is ambitious and reviewed regularly. Staff have identified what they want pupils to know and remember in each subject. The school has trained staff well, so teachers' subject knowledge is strong. In some subjects, leaders know, through regular assessment, what pupils have learned and remembered. This means teachers can help pupils catch up quickly if they fall behind. In some subjects, the school is still developing assessment systems and staff do not check as precisely if pupils are learning what is intended in the curriculum.
The school has introduced a new phonics scheme and made sure that teachers follow the new system consistently in all classes. More pupils are now meeting the expected standards than did previously. Pupils in the early years or at the early stages of learning to read are given books which help them to develop their reading. They take books home to practise. This helps them to become more fluent. Teachers check how well pupils read. They identify those who are falling behind and give them help to catch up. Teachers read to pupils and this encourages a love of reading.
From Ofsted's July 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its January 2019 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
23.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 54% to 85% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 62% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 50% to 65% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.1
Avg class size
24.3
Infant (KS1)
24.0
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Watlington Community Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Watlington Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Watlington Community Primary School 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
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Watlington Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Watlington Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Watlington Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Watlington Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Watlington Community Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Norfolk, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Watlington Community Primary School for 2014 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
171 pupils
210 places
39 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - King's Lynn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for King's Lynn
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
36
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
23.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
169
Total Pupils
80
Boys
89
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
18.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£45,020
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,513
Per pupil
£1041k
Total funding
£50k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.9%
Overall absence
13.7%
Persistent absence
153
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Watlington Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Watlington Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Watlington Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 85% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Watlington Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Watlington Community Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Watlington Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Watlington Community Primary School is oversubscribed, Norfolk allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Watlington Community Primary School?
Watlington Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Watlington Community Primary School?
Classes at Watlington Community Primary School average 24.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Watlington Community Primary School?
Watlington Community Primary School has around 169 pupils on roll. 23% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Watlington Community Primary School?
4.9% of sessions were missed at Watlington Community Primary School in 2024/25. 13.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Watlington Community Primary School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Watlington Community Primary School 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.
How many road collisions happen near Watlington Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 3 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Watlington Community Primary School?
Watlington Community Primary School is at Rectory Lane, Watlington, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE33 0HU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)