Howard Community Academy
Beard Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Howard Community Academy is a primary school in Bury St Edmunds for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 26th of 32 primary schools in Bury St Edmunds. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 1 July 2025, report published 8 September 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 1 July 2025
Pupils enjoy school. They are happy and safe. Pupils are eager to win the headteacher's award for embodying the school's values of 'nurture, community, experience and aspiration'. Pupils are keen to rise to the high expectations set by staff. They behave well and follow the school's principles of 'calm, safe, respect'. Pupils are proud of their work and say that teachers make learning fun. They achieve well, overall. Classroom learning comes to life with visits to local farms, museums and events such as experiencing life in First World War trenches. Creative experiences make learning memorable. For example, pupils make terracotta soldiers with their parents and carers as they study the Shang dynasty. Pupils enjoy rich experiences to extend their talents and interests. These include collaborations with the arts council, brass music tuition and singing in a cathedral choir. The plentiful clubs include gardening, karaoke and cricket. Many pupils participate, including disadvantaged pupils. Pupils adopt meaningful leadership roles. These include reading roles, active and art champions, school councillors, eco-leaders and play leaders. Pupils relish these roles, which prepare them for their responsibilities of the future.
What the school should improve
- In a few subjects, teaching does not give routine opportunities for pupils to extend and consolidate their knowledge and skills. Some pupils do not achieve as highly as they could as a result. The school should ensure that pupils have sufficient time and routine opportunities to practise and develop their skills and knowledge in every curriculum area.
- The school's approaches to supporting pupils with weak language skills are not implemented consistently well. This affects how well these pupils learn. The school should ensure that strategies for supporting pupils' language skills are implemented consistently well across the curriculum.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
14 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
210 pupils on roll, with places for 315
Schools near Howard Community Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tollgate Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 68% met the expected standard |
| Sexton's Manor Primary School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | 27% met the expected standard |
| St Edmundsbury CofE Primary Academy | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | 25% met the expected standard |
| Westgate Community Primary School and Nursery | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 39% met the expected standard |
| Guildhall Feoffment Community Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 69% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ANGLIAN LEARNING
- Age range
- 3 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Alison Weir
- Phone
- 01284766278
- Address
- Beard Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 6SA
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- URN
- 146280
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.