West Earlham Junior School, Norwich
West Earlham Junior School is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Norwich. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 99th-highest of the 102 schools in Norwich with published results, and 13,680th of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Capacity
- 95% full
- Attendance
- In line with England
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
West Earlham Junior School in detail
West Earlham Junior School in its own words
In its own words: ""Parents remark warmly about the care offered to their children and their children’s enjoyment of school." At West Earlham Junior School we are aiming to develop learners who are good positive citizens of the world who behave respectfully towards others. We want them to look outwards and develop an awareness and curiosity about the wider world beyond their immediate environment."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Hi, my name is Mrs Jade Hunter and I am the proud headteacher of West Earlham Junior school. At West Earlham, we believe that every child has the potential to achieve great things. Our aim is to provide a safe, caring and ambitious environment where every child feels valued, develops confidence and is supported to reach their full potential."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 55% of Year 6 pupils at West Earlham Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 53% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 73% and 70% in Norfolk and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 66% in reading and 66% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at West Earlham 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 West Earlham Junior School are West Earlham Infant and Nursery School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding); Norwich Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 63% reading, 65% maths); Henderson Green Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Requires improvement, 74% reading, 78% maths); and Bluebell Primary School (0.6 miles, 78% reading, 63% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than West Earlham Junior School.
West Earlham Infant and Nursery SchoolNorwich Primary AcademyHenderson Green Primary AcademyBluebell Primary School
Who goes there
53.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 25.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%), Mixed (8%) and Black (6%).
In 2026, 64 pupils (26.8%) received SEN support and 16 (6.7%) 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.
Staffing
West Earlham Junior School had 15 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
The nearest railway station is Norwich Rail Station, about 2.7 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Health Centre (opposite), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 199 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. 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, West Earlham Junior School issued 63 suspensions, 26.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to West Earlham Junior School are City Academy Norwich (0.4 miles) and Ormiston Victory Academy (1.8 miles).
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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; 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 agoThis judgement is from January 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
West Earlham Junior School creates a nurturing 'family' environment where pupils are proud to learn. The school excels at teaching reading and language skills, with pupils progressing well in English and maths thanks to consistent teaching approaches. Pupils thrive both academically and personally, with excellent behaviour, strong well-being support, and plenty of free clubs and visits to spark new interests.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, well-structured curriculum with high consistency in English, mathematics and science - pupils make good progress in their learning
- Reading is a strong priority - pupils experience a rich range of texts and those who fall behind receive targeted support
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring full inclusion with appropriate curriculum adaptations
- Strong behaviour and well-being culture with consistent routines, high expectations and trusted adults pupils can turn to
- Free variety of clubs and extracurricular activities, plus trips and visits that enhance learning
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in how the curriculum is implemented across some subjects, with variable outcomes for pupils
- Some subject leaders are new to role and need further development to ensure consistent curriculum delivery
- Need to strengthen curriculum implementation so pupils can learn and remember knowledge over time across the full range of subjects taught
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear procedures in place and pupils knowing they can trust adults to listen to and address their concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, sports leadership activities, digital leadership roles, school council participation, school trips and visits
West Earlham Junior School has maintained the standards identified at its previous inspection. The school provides a well-planned curriculum with a strong focus on developing pupils' oracy skills and subject-specific vocabulary, supported by opportunities to revisit and revise learning.
At a Glance
53.6%
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 declined from 66% to 55% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 66% to 53% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 52% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.8
Avg class size
29.8
KS2
6
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with West Earlham Junior School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to West Earlham Junior School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. West Earlham 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
- 29
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 21 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
11 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
95%
Near capacity
237 pupils
249 places
12 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Norwich
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Norwich
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(13)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
64
SEN Support
16
EHC Plans
33.5%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
239
Total Pupils
110
Boys
129
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
15.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£42,751
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,341
Per pupil
£1738k
Total funding
£191k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
19.3%
Persistent absence
243
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
West Earlham Junior School
Questions parents ask about West Earlham Junior School
What are SATs results like at West Earlham Junior School?
Of the pupils at West Earlham Junior School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 55% reached the expected standard in reading and 53% did so in maths.
What is West Earlham Junior School's Ofsted rating?
West Earlham Junior School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for West Earlham Junior School?
No fixed boundary. When West Earlham 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 West Earlham Junior School?
West Earlham Junior School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at West Earlham Junior School?
Classes at West Earlham Junior School average 29.8 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to West Earlham Junior School?
West Earlham Junior School has around 239 pupils on roll. 54% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at West Earlham Junior School?
6.1% of sessions were missed at West Earlham Junior School in 2024/25. 19.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to West Earlham Junior School?
Apply through Norfolk's coordinated admissions process, naming West Earlham 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 West Earlham Junior School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 29 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 8 serious and 21 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 2 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 11 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 West Earlham Junior School?
West Earlham Junior School is at Scarnell Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR5 8HT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)