Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School, Wells-Next-the-Sea

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 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. "Leaders have secured improvements to pupils' attendance over the last 3 years."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a broad and ambitious curriculum from the early years to Year 6."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders make sure that children in the early years have a positive start to learning."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "The school strives to meet the diverse and wide-ranging needs of its pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's strengths and areas for development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders place personal development and wellbeing at the heart of the school's work."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Leaders have recognised that some pupils do not achieve as well as they should, especially in writing and mathematics."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff use assessment effectively to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding, so that these gaps are swiftly addressed"; "Leaders should make sure that staff teach the curriculum consistently well"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff consistently model and reinforce routines and expectations to further improve behaviour for learning".

In its own words: "Wells-next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School is a small school with passion and drive, to provide the best for our children, families and communities both locally and further afield. We promote a curriculum which encompasses a value each half-term. We celebrate with 'value awards' each week at our Friday Celebration Assembly."

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School reached the expected standard in reading and 40% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 75% in reading and 59% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 13 families put Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School as their first choice and 18 named it as one of their preferences, for 13 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 Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School are Walsingham CE VA Primary School (3.8 miles, Requires improvement, 88% reading, 38% maths); and Hindringham Church of England Primary School (5.8 miles, Good).

Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School is one of 12 schools run by The Wensum Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (50%).

4.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School had 17 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Wells-next-the-Sea (Wells & Walsingham Railway), about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grove Road (adjacent), 110 metres away.

In 2024/25, Wells-Next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School issued 11 suspensions, 5.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.