Gusford Community Primary School
Sheldrake Drive, Ipswich, IP2 9LQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Gusford Community Primary School is a primary school in Ipswich for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 28th of 55 primary schools in Ipswich. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 12 November 2024, report published 12 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 12 November 2024
Pupils enjoy coming to Gusford Community Primary School. They are eager to attend here and engage well with their learning. The core values such as kindness, honesty and responsibility are embedded in the school's ethos and lived out daily. These values unite the community, reflecting the school's motto 'Together we believe, learn and achieve'. The school has high expectations for behaviour and learning. Pupils achieve these. They behave well in lessons and around the school. They conduct themselves with maturity and show respect to visitors and to each other. Initiatives like the bluey club, well-being ambassadors and the eco-team empower pupils to make meaningful contributions. These leadership responsibilities help to foster pride in their school and community and improve pupils' confidence and self-esteem. Pupils feel safe and well supported. They know that staff address issues like bullying promptly and fairly. They appreciate adults who listen and care for their well-being. Parents and carers value the school's nurturing environment and describe the school as a community. The school provides an extremely well-planned, varied and rich set of experiences to promote pupils' wider development. These include table tennis, comic, music and gardening clubs. There is something here for everyone.
What the school should improve
- The checks that the school makes to ensure the curriculum is being implemented effectively are in their infancy. Staff need support to ensure that these checks are undertaken consistently and rigorously. Consequently, in some subjects, the school is not clear as to what is working well and what needs to improve. The school should ensure that all staff have the knowledge and skills necessary so that all subjects are monitored and evaluated effectively and accurately.
- The school has not ensured that all pupils receive a varied, rich and diverse reading curriculum. Consequently, some pupils have a limited experience of different authors and genres. The school should ensure that all pupils receive a full and rich reading diet so that their knowledge, vocabulary and fluency are as good as they can be.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
77 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
518 pupils on roll, with places for 630
Schools near Gusford Community Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sprites Primary Academy | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 71% met the expected standard |
| The Willows Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 35% met the expected standard |
| The Oaks Primary School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 67% met the expected standard |
| St Mark's Catholic Primary School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Halifax Primary School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 72% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE ACTIVE LEARNING TRUST LIMITED
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kelly Ashford
- Phone
- 01473682148
- Address
- Sheldrake Drive, Ipswich, IP2 9LQ
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- URN
- 139803
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.