Holy Cross Church of England Primary School

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 2 to 11
Ofsted: Good

School Road, Runcton Holme, King's Lynn, PE33 0ELOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Holy Cross Church of England Primary School is a primary school in King's Lynn for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 453 schools in Norfolk. It ranks 24th of 41 primary schools in King's Lynn. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 18 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 18 July 2023

Pupils of all ages learn and play together happily. Whether sitting and chatting over lunch, or playing tennis at playtime, older pupils include the youngest in all they do. Many pupils have joined the school recently. These pupils are made to feel welcome. They quickly become part of the school community. Adults expect pupils to work hard in lessons and behave well, which most do. Many pupils strive to be 'star learner' of the week. They delight in receiving this award in assembly, sharing their achievement with the wider school community. Pupils are proud to carry out roles, such as being a school ambassador, sports leader or library monitor. They take these responsibilities seriously. Opportunities such as the annual Christmas sleepover, taking part in sporting competitions and attending a range of clubs are enjoyed by pupils. These opportunities, coupled with a range of trips and visits, provide pupils with chances to develop independence and experience the world beyond the school gates. Pupils are guided to stay physically healthy. They learn ways to support their mental health and well-being. Pupils know it is best to share worries or concerns when they have them and not keep these to themselves.

What the school should improve

  • The individual targets for some pupils with SEND are too broad. They do not precisely set out what pupils need to know, remember and be able to do as a result of the additional activities they undertake. This means some additional support that pupils receive is not always tightly focused, and they do not learn as well as they could. Leaders should ensure that staff put in place specific, measurable and time-focused support to ensure that these pupils achieve well.
  • While there have been some improvements in attendance, a significant minority of pupils are persistently absent from school. They miss too much learning time. Leaders should ensure that their approaches to promoting good attendance are precisely tailored around the needs of pupils and result in these pupils attending school more regularly.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

10 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths40%

40%, 22 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths10%

10%, 2 percentage points above the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score101

101, 5 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score102

102, 3 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

55 pupils on roll, with places for 70

Eligible for free school meals18.2%

18.2%, 8.3 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language0%

0%, 21.6 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support18.2%

18.2%, 3.4 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan3.6%

3.6%, 2.4 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Holy Cross Church of England Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Watlington Community Primary School1 mileOfsted: Good62% met the expected standard
Magdalen Academy2 milesOfsted: Good17% met the expected standard
Wimbotsham and Stow Academy2 milesOfsted: Good56% met the expected standard
St Martin At Shouldham Church of England Primary Academy3 milesOfsted judgements: Good to outstanding79% met the expected standard
Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School3 milesOfsted: Good71% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy sponsor led
Sector
Academy
Trust
GRACE SCHOOLS
Age range
2 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Emma Zeil
Address
School Road, Runcton Holme, King's Lynn, PE33 0EL
Local authority
Norfolk
URN
141228

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.