West Row Academy, Bury St. Edmunds
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
West Row Academy has made exceptional progress and now offers ambitious teaching across a well-organised curriculum. The school is particularly strong in teaching children to read fluently and confidently from the start, and excels at including all pupils - especially those with special educational needs - ensuring everyone feels part of the school community. Parents increasingly recognise the school's improvements and pupils are well-prepared for their next stages of education.
Key Strengths
- Strong leadership that has driven rapid improvement and built an ambitious, well-organised curriculum
- Excellent reading outcomes with pupils learning to read well from early years onwards
- Inclusive approach with effective support for pupils with special needs and those facing barriers to learning
- Positive school culture with good attendance, behaviour and pupil wellbeing
- High-quality professional development for staff leading to effective teaching
Areas for Improvement
- Some inconsistencies remain in how teachers check pupil understanding in lessons to identify gaps in knowledge
- On occasions in some foundation subjects, staff do not ensure pupils fully understand what they have learned
- Some targets for pupils needing additional support are not precise enough to measure progress effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met with leaders establishing an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Singing, reading support from Year 6 pupils
West Row Academy has significantly improved in recent years with leaders addressing identified issues and establishing ambitious curriculum provision. The school now has high expectations for all pupils and ensures they are supported to learn well.
At a Glance
18.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 81%. Maths has remained stable at around 76%. Writing has improved from 71% to 76%.
Class Sizes
24.4
Avg class size
25.3
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
8
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Latest from West Row Academy
From West Row Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Getting There
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
77%
Available places
208 pupils
270 capacity
62 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Bury St. Edmunds
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bury St. Edmunds
Admissions Demand - Suffolk
Places available
8,896
Applications
6,486
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.4%
Primary admissions across Suffolk (2025/26)
Inspection History(101)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.18544%
Overall absence
11.11111%
Persistent absence
171
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
West Row Academy
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