Voluntary controlled school · Suffolk

Barrow Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School

4–11Ages
199Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
124690URN

Colethorpe Lane, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5AU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.0per place

close to Suffolk median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Suffolk

51 applications for 26 places · 48th of 165 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

67%met the expected standard

Suffolk 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 September 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision	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

2.0applications per place, Reception

close to Suffolk median (1.8) 0.2 below England median (2.2)

51 applications · 26 places offered · 22 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.0; Suffolk median median 1.8
2025 2.2; Suffolk median median 1.8
2024 2.1; Suffolk median median 1.8
2023 2.4; Suffolk median median 1.8
2022 2.4; Suffolk median median 1.8
2021 1.9; Suffolk median median 1.9
2020 1.9; Suffolk median median 1.7
2019 2.5; Suffolk median median 1.8
2018 2.7; Suffolk median median 1.8
2017 1.9; Suffolk median median 1.8
2016 1.9; Suffolk median median 1.9
2015 1.8; Suffolk median median 1.9
2014 1.9; Suffolk median median 1.9

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	26	51	2.0	22	0.85
Sep 2025	30	67	2.2	30	1.00
Sep 2024	30	63	2.1	32	1.07
Sep 2023	30	71	2.4	36	1.20
Sep 2022	30	73	2.4	34	1.13
Sep 2021	30	57	1.9	32	1.07
Sep 2020	30	57	1.9	30	1.00
Sep 2019	29	72	2.5	32	1.10
Sep 2018	30	81	2.7	36	1.20
Sep 2017	29	54	1.9	27	0.93
Sep 2016	30	57	1.9	29	0.97
Sep 2015	30	54	1.8	26	0.87
Sep 2014	30	58	1.9	37	1.23

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 77% · Writing 77% · Maths 73% → all three 67% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard67%73rd of 223 in Suffolk

Suffolk 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard77%

Suffolk 76% England 78%

Higher standard37%

Suffolk 32% England 33%

Average scaled score 105 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard77%

Suffolk 73% England 75%

Greater depth13%

Suffolk 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard73%

Suffolk 73% England 77%

Higher standard20%

Suffolk 21% England 24%

Average scaled score 103 (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	67%	10%	105	103
2023/24	60%	13%	105	102
2022/23	61%	9%	107	104

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

Barrow Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.0applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Risby Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
4.4 km · Suffolk

Good2022

2.2applications per place 54%met the SATs standard
Moulton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
6.6 km · Suffolk

Outstanding2022

1.9applications per place 83%met the SATs standard
Ickworth Park Primary School
7.0 km · Suffolk

Good2024

2.8applications per place
Sexton's Manor Primary School
7.4 km · Suffolk

Not yet inspected

2.2applications per place 27%met the SATs standard
Kennett Primary School
7.5 km · Cambridgeshire

Remains Good2024

3.7applications per place 55%met the SATs standard
Howard Community Academy
7.9 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.9applications per place 36%met the SATs standard
Cheveley CofE Primary School
8.3 km · Cambridgeshire

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
Abbeygate Sixth Form College
8.3 km · Suffolk

Not yet inspected

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 124690 · 935/3005
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 199 on roll
Free school meals: 9.5% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Colethorpe Lane, Barrow, Bury St Edmunds, IP29 5AU
Local authority: Suffolk · West Suffolk

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