Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery School
White Cross Road, Swaffham, PE37 7RFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery School is a primary school in Swaffham for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 453 schools in Norfolk. It ranks 236th of 263 primary schools in Norfolk. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 13 July 2023, report published 25 September 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- 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 13 July 2023
Heartwood Primary is a warm and welcoming place. Pupils understand that there are high expectations set for them to achieve well and most pupils rise to this challenge. Pupils are encouraged to be active citizens in the school and beyond. They are given opportunities throughout the curriculum to develop their sense of right from wrong. For example, in Nursery, children learn about how to be a respectful friend and how to understand feelings. Pupils treat each other well. They have positive relationships with staff. Pupils trust staff to notice if they are upset or worried. They know that staff will help them if they have any concerns. Pupils live up to the school's motto of 'Learn to love - love to learn'. They learn about different faiths and accept that others may have different opinions to their own. Pupils appreciate receiving recognition awards for examples of exceptional effort. Pupils are proud of opportunities to take on responsibilities, such as helping in lessons, being a subject ambassador, prayer warrior or member of the eco club. Pupils behave well and show excellent manners as they move around school. Pupils are confident that if bullying were to occur, staff would sort this out quickly. As a result, pupils feel safe in school.
What the school should improve
- On occasion, teachers do not provide activities that help pupils to practise using the knowledge they have been taught. This means that pupils sometimes struggle to remember and apply important subject knowledge. Consequently, pupils do not consistently learn as well as they could across the entire curriculum. Leaders should ensure that staff consistently make appropriate choices about the activities they provide so that they support pupils' learning effectively.
- Leaders' and governors' oversight of some aspects of the school's work is not as sharp as it is for others. This means that actions to improve the school are not always as precise as they could be. Leaders should refine their monitoring processes so they can evaluate the full impact of their actions effectively.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
29 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
241 pupils on roll, with places for 240
Schools near Heartwood CofE VC Primary & Nursery School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swaffham Meadow Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate | 0% met the expected standard |
| Swaffham CofE Primary Academy | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 41% met the expected standard |
| Sporle Church of England Primary Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 38% met the expected standard |
| Necton VA Primary School | 4 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 58% met the expected standard |
| Castle Acre Church of England Primary Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 33% 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
- Mrs Rebecca Starman
- Phone
- 01760721357
- Address
- White Cross Road, Swaffham, PE37 7RF
- Local authority
- Norfolk
- URN
- 121059
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.