Watton Junior School, Thetford
Watton Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Thetford, part of Clarion Corvus Trust. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 16th-highest of the 17 schools in Thetford with published results, and 14,122nd of 14,452 across England. It was 89% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Capacity
- 89% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Watton Junior School in detail
Results
In 2025, 49% of Year 6 pupils at Watton Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 44% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 53% in reading and 49% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Watton Junior School
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 Watton Junior School are Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery School (0.2 miles, Good); Parker's Church of England Primary Academy (1.2 miles, Good, 58% reading, 25% maths); St Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy & Nursery (2.6 miles, Good, 72% reading, 64% maths); and Thompson Primary School (2.7 miles, Requires improvement, 100% reading, 100% maths).
Watton Junior School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Watton Westfield Infant and Nursery SchoolParker's Church of England Primary AcademySt Peter and St Paul Church of England Primary Academy & NurseryThompson Primary School
The trust
Watton Junior School is one of 13 schools run by Clarion Corvus Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
46 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Watton Junior School (as of September 2025): 59% would recommend the school, 67% say their child is happy there and 44% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (74%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (44%).
Who goes there
40.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (60%) and other ethnic groups (7%).
In 2026, 58 pupils (18.6%) received SEN support and 20 (6.4%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.
Watton Junior School has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
Staffing
Watton Junior School had 19 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Watton Junior School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Swaffham Road (opposite), 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Watton Junior School issued 18 suspensions, 6 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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Watton Junior School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in April 2020. Before that, as Wayland Junior Academy Watton (URN 140680), it was rated Inadequate in July 2019.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The school creates a welcoming, inclusive community where pupils behave exceptionally well and feel valued. Staff teach reading, writing and mathematics confidently, and the school provides strong support for pupils with SEND and those learning English as a new language. Leadership is ambitious and responsive, with trustees and governors providing strong accountability to drive improvement.
Key Strengths
- Strong behaviour and positive attitudes to school with calm, orderly classrooms and a respectful 'Respect code'
- Inclusive culture that celebrates diversity and warmly welcomes pupils from other countries
- Effective phonics teaching and growing culture of reading for pleasure with high-quality texts
- Good provision for pupils with SEND, with most learning alongside peers
- Ambitious leadership with shared vision and strong accountability from governors and trustees
Areas for Improvement
- Historic gaps in pupils' knowledge mean many do not have secure foundations to build on
- Inconsistent quality of teaching in subjects other than reading, writing and mathematics due to staff's developing knowledge of new curriculum
- Assessment systems not used effectively to adjust teaching and help pupils progress
- Persistent absence for some pupils continues despite school's efforts to improve attendance
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Astronomy clubs, trips to castles, museum visits, space centre trips, Passport Day cultural learning, annual careers fair
Watton Junior School is a diverse, inclusive junior school where behaviour and personal development are strong, but the quality of education requires improvement due to gaps in pupils' knowledge and inconsistent teaching across subjects.
At a Glance
28.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SEMH, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
46 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 declined from 53% to 49% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 49% to 44% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 21% to 40% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.6
Avg class size
23.6
KS2
13
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Watton Junior School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Watton Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Watton Junior 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
- 14
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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
89%
Available places
300 pupils
338 places
38 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.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
58
SEN Support
20
EHC Plans
25.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Watton Junior School has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
311
Total Pupils
169
Boys
142
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
19
Teachers
16.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,056
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,340
Per pupil
£1843k
Total funding
£152k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.8%
Overall absence
14.2%
Persistent absence
317
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
Watton Junior School
Questions parents ask about Watton Junior School
What are SATs results like at Watton Junior School?
Of the pupils at Watton Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 49% reached the expected standard in reading and 44% did so in maths.
What is Watton Junior School's Ofsted rating?
Watton Junior School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in April 2020. Before that, as Wayland Junior Academy Watton (URN 140680), it was rated Inadequate in July 2019.
What is the catchment area for Watton Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When Watton Junior 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 Watton Junior School?
Watton Junior School was not full in 2025: it ran at 89% of its 338 places.
How big are the classes at Watton Junior School?
Classes at Watton Junior School average 23.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Watton Junior School?
Watton Junior School has around 311 pupils on roll. 29% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Watton Junior School have specialist SEN provision?
Watton Junior School has a SEN unit for social, emotional and mental health needs and moderate learning difficulties: 10 places, 10 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Watton Junior School?
5.8% of sessions were missed at Watton Junior School in 2024/25. 14.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Watton Junior School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming Watton Junior School 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 Watton Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 14 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 11 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Watton Junior School?
Watton Junior School is at Brandon Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 6AL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)