Voluntary aided school · Suffolk

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School

4–11Ages
169Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
124774URN

School Corner, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6PL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.5 below Suffolk median (1.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Suffolk

23 applications for 17 places · 144th of 165 in Suffolk

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

58%met the expected standard

Suffolk 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 2 February 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

1.4applications per place, Reception

0.5 below Suffolk median (1.8) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

23 applications · 17 places offered · 17 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.8
2025 1.7; Suffolk median median 1.8
2024 1.3; Suffolk median median 1.8
2023 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.8
2022 1.1; Suffolk median median 1.8
2021 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.9
2020 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.7
2019 1.4; Suffolk median median 1.8
2018 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.8
2017 1.5; Suffolk median median 1.8
2016 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.9
2015 1.2; Suffolk median median 1.9
2014 1.3; Suffolk median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Suffolk median in 0 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	17	23	1.4	17	1.00
Sep 2025	24	41	1.7	24	1.00
Sep 2024	24	30	1.3	24	1.00
Sep 2023	14	20	1.4	14	1.00
Sep 2022	22	25	1.1	22	1.00
Sep 2021	10	15	1.5	10	1.00
Sep 2020	22	27	1.2	22	1.00
Sep 2019	20	27	1.4	20	1.00
Sep 2018	30	46	1.5	31	1.03
Sep 2017	20	30	1.5	20	1.00
Sep 2016	29	35	1.2	27	0.93
Sep 2015	30	37	1.2	31	1.03
Sep 2014	27	34	1.3	27	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 91% · Writing 58% · Maths 79% → all three 58% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard58%125th of 223 in Suffolk

Suffolk 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard91%

Suffolk 76% England 78%

Higher standard33%

Suffolk 32% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard58%

Suffolk 73% England 75%

Greater depth3%

Suffolk 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard79%

Suffolk 73% England 77%

Higher standard12%

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	58%	3%	106	103
2023/24	60%	8%	107	105
2022/23	52%	10%	104	101

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

Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.4applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Helmingham Primary School and Nursery
5.0 km · Suffolk

2026

3.0applications per place
Bedfield Church of England Primary School
5.5 km · Suffolk

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.3applications per place
Wetheringsett Church of England Primary School
5.5 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2024

1.6applications per place
Stonham Aspal Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
5.7 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 45%met the SATs standard
Earl Soham Community Primary School
5.9 km · Suffolk

Good2024

1.8applications per place 63%met the SATs standard
Thorndon Church of England Primary School
6.8 km · Suffolk

2026

2.5applications per place 82%met the SATs standard
Worlingworth Church of England primary school
6.8 km · Suffolk

Standards maintained2025

1.5applications per place
Occold Primary School
7.2 km · Suffolk

Remains Good2023

1.6applications per place 54%met the SATs standard

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 aided school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 124774 · 935/3329
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 169 on roll
Free school meals: 12.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: School Corner, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6PL
Local authority: Suffolk · Mid Suffolk

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