Barningham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Church Road, Barningham, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 1DDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Barningham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a primary school in Bury St Edmunds for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 21st of 32 primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 January 2025, report published 11 February 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 January 2025
Barningham is a school at the heart of its community. Pupils and their families value the welcoming 'family feel'. Pupils are supported 'to be ambitious, to be kind and to give'. The taught curriculum supports pupils to learn and build upon their knowledge over time. They achieve well, particularly in the core areas of learning. Pupils are well prepared academically for their next stage. The pastoral support is a real strength. Pupils feel safe in school. They speak very confidently about adults they can talk to if they ever feel worried. Relationships between pupils and adults are strong. Pupils know they are listened to and valued. Pupils behave positively around school. They want to learn and make the right choices to ensure this happens. Pupils are highly motivated to move up the 'rainbow ladder' for demonstrating excellent behaviour. Playtimes are a happy, sociable time. School councillors revel in their roles. The worship council supports, organises and leads acts of worship. Pupils raise money and contribute to the local community. These roles of responsibility help pupils develop their leadership skills. The annual careers week helps raise aspirations. Pupils are ambitious for what they can go on and achieve.
What the school should improve
- On occasion, the teaching of the early reading curriculum is not supported by secure subject and teaching knowledge. This means that some pupils are not fully supported to ensure they read fluently and accurately at the early stages of reading. The school should ensure staff have sufficient expertise to deliver their early reading curriculum effectively.
- On occasion, in wider curriculum subjects, the core knowledge and vocabulary pupils need to secure is not suitably prioritised. This means some pupils do not secure the core learning they are intended to learn and remember over time. The school should support teachers so that the key learning content is at the forefront of teaching approaches used.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
16 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
70 pupils on roll, with places for 120
Schools near Barningham Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanton Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Hopton Church of England Primary Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Not published |
| Bardwell Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 43% met the expected standard |
| Honington Church of England Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Garboldisham Church of England Primary Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Miss Stephany Hunter
- Phone
- 01359221297
- Address
- Church Road, Barningham, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 1DD
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- URN
- 124689
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.