Community school · Suffolk

Birchwood Primary School

4–11Ages
209Pupils
PrimaryPhase
124681URN

Valiant Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3SP · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded OutstandingOct 2016

School remains OutstandingUngraded inspection · Dec 2022

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

3.0per place

1.2 above Suffolk median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Suffolk

88 applications for 29 places · 6th of 165 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

73%met the expected standard

Suffolk 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded OutstandingOct 2016

School remains OutstandingUngraded inspection · Dec 2022

Inspection history

14 December 2022
Ungraded inspection: School remains Outstanding
13 October 2016
Graded inspection: Outstanding

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

3.0applications per place, Reception

1.2 above Suffolk median (1.8) 0.8 above England median (2.2)

88 applications · 29 places offered · 42 named it first

2026 3.0; Suffolk median median 1.8
2025 2.4; Suffolk median median 1.8
2024 2.6; Suffolk median median 1.8
2023 3.1; Suffolk median median 1.8
2022 3.0; Suffolk median median 1.8
2021 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.9
2020 2.6; Suffolk median median 1.7
2019 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.8
2018 3.2; Suffolk median median 1.8
2017 2.7; Suffolk median median 1.8
2016 3.4; Suffolk median median 1.9
2015 3.4; Suffolk median median 1.9
2014 2.6; Suffolk median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Suffolk median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Suffolk 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	88	3.0	42	1.45
Sep 2025	29	70	2.4	33	1.14
Sep 2024	30	79	2.6	34	1.13
Sep 2023	30	92	3.1	33	1.10
Sep 2022	27	80	3.0	26	0.96
Sep 2021	30	97	3.2	40	1.33
Sep 2020	25	65	2.6	25	1.00
Sep 2019	30	97	3.2	48	1.60
Sep 2018	30	96	3.2	36	1.20
Sep 2017	30	80	2.7	32	1.07
Sep 2016	30	101	3.4	43	1.43
Sep 2015	30	103	3.4	47	1.57
Sep 2014	30	78	2.6	29	0.97

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 83% · Writing 80% · Maths 80% → all three 73% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard73%40th of 223 in Suffolk

Suffolk 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard83%

Suffolk 76% England 78%

Higher standard40%

Suffolk 32% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard80%

Suffolk 73% England 75%

Greater depth27%

Suffolk 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard80%

Suffolk 73% England 77%

Higher standard33%

Suffolk 21% England 24%

Average scaled score 107 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Suffolk median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	73%	17%	108	107
2023/24	67%	7%	105	104
2022/23	40%	13%	104	102

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

Birchwood Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Remains Outstanding2022

3.0applications per place 73%met the SATs standard
Gorseland Primary School
0.6 km · Suffolk

2025

2.2applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Martlesham Primary Academy
1.3 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2024

1.9applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
Cedarwood Primary School
1.9 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2023

2.0applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Heath Primary School, Kesgrave
2.5 km · Suffolk

Good2023

2.2applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Bealings School
3.0 km · Suffolk

Good2024

2.3applications per place 53%met the SATs standard
Bucklesham Primary School
3.5 km · Suffolk

Good2024

2.3applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Waldringfield Primary School
3.7 km · Suffolk

Requires improvement2023

3.7applications per place
Kyson Primary School
3.9 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.9applications 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: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 124681 · 935/2924
Capacity: 210 pupils · 209 on roll
Free school meals: 10.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Valiant Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3SP
Local authority: Suffolk · East Suffolk

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