Voluntary controlled school · Norfolk

Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery School

3–11Ages
241Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
121059URN

White Cross Road, Swaffham, PE37 7RF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.3per place

0.3 above Norfolk median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Norfolk

68 applications for 29 places · 37th of 180 in Norfolk

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

38%met the expected standard

Norfolk 57% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 July 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.3applications per place, Reception

0.3 above Norfolk median (2.0) close to England median (2.2)

68 applications · 29 places offered · 36 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.3; Norfolk median median 2.0
2025 2.4; Norfolk median median 2.0
2024 1.9; Norfolk median median 1.7
2023 1.7; Norfolk median median 1.7
2022 1.7; Norfolk median median 1.7
2021 2.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
2020 2.0; Norfolk median median 1.7
2019 1.3; Norfolk median median 1.7
2018 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.7
2017 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.6
2016 1.0; Norfolk median median 1.6
2015 1.1; Norfolk median median 1.7
2014 1.2; Norfolk median median 1.6

This school
Norfolk median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	29	68	2.3	36	1.24
Sep 2025	30	72	2.4	39	1.30
Sep 2024	29	55	1.9	38	1.31
Sep 2023	30	51	1.7	33	1.10
Sep 2022	30	52	1.7	36	1.20
Sep 2021	30	68	2.3	44	1.47
Sep 2020	27	54	2.0	27	1.00
Sep 2019	60	75	1.3	66	1.10
Sep 2018	60	71	1.2	65	1.08
Sep 2017	60	68	1.1	60	1.00
Sep 2016	53	52	1.0	47	0.89
Sep 2015	60	68	1.1	56	0.93
Sep 2014	54	67	1.2	55	1.02

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 62% · Writing 45% · Maths 41% → all three 38% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard38%230th of 263 in Norfolk

Norfolk 57% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard62%

Norfolk 73% England 78%

Higher standard17%

Norfolk 30% England 33%

Average scaled score 102 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard45%

Norfolk 68% England 75%

Greater depth3%

Norfolk 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard41%

Norfolk 71% England 77%

Higher standard7%

Norfolk 19% England 24%

Average scaled score 99 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Norfolk median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	38%	0%	102	99
2023/24	4%	0%	99	96
2022/23

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.3applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
Swaffham Meadow Primary School
0.5 km · Norfolk

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2024

0.9applications per place 0%met the SATs standard
Swaffham CofE Primary Academy
0.7 km · Norfolk

Good2023

2.4applications per place 41%met the SATs standard
Sporle Church of England Primary Academy
4.0 km · Norfolk

Good2022

2.0applications per place 38%met the SATs standard
Necton VA Primary School
6.1 km · Norfolk

2026

1.5applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy
6.8 km · Norfolk

Standards maintained2025

2.3applications per place 33%met the SATs standard
Ashill Voluntary Controlled Primary School
7.8 km · Norfolk

Good2023

2.7applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Narborough Church of England Primary Academy
8.6 km · Norfolk

Standards maintained2024

1.7applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Gooderstone Church of England Primary Academy
8.8 km · Norfolk

Remains Good2024

2.0applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 121059 · 926/3081
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 240 pupils · 241 on roll
Free school meals: 33.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: White Cross Road, Swaffham, PE37 7RF
Local authority: Norfolk · Breckland

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources