Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School
School Corner, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6PLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School is a primary school in Stowmarket for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 357 schools in Suffolk. It ranks 9th of 15 primary schools in Stowmarket. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 February 2023, report published 29 March 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 2 February 2023
Pupils, and children in early years, are happy and safe. They love coming to school and seeing their friends and the adults who work with them. There is a strong sense of community spirit throughout the school. Pupils really value Celebration Collective Worship, where they can congratulate each other for their achievements and for embodying the school's Rainbow Pledges, which include 'striving to be the best we can be'. Pupils enjoy their lessons. Teachers' high expectations provide pupils with the support and challenge they need to do well. These are established in early years and continue throughout school as pupils learn to be 'willing to make mistakes and learn from them'. Pupils appreciate the adults who help them to get better at their work. Behaviour in lessons and social time is generally positive and pupils are warm and caring. Pupils' good conduct in class means they can work well without distractions. Sometimes, a minority of pupils need help to regulate their behaviour. Skilled adults provide this effective support. Bullying is rare, but pupils, parents and carers are confident that adults would quickly stop it if it were to happen.
What the school should improve
- In the foundation subjects, the systems used for assessment do not consistently give leaders a clear understanding of what pupils know and understand. Gaps in pupils' knowledge or understanding are not always adequately addressed before teachers move on to a new topic. Leaders need to ensure that the system they use for identifying gaps is effective, and that teachers help pupils keep up.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new curriculum being implemented across the school, leaders have not developed a systematic enrichment programme. This means that pupils have fewer opportunities to develop their wider understanding about life in modern Britain. Leaders should create a coherent enrichment programme that provides a range of opportunities to enhance pupils' understanding of the curriculum and the wider world.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
33 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
169 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near Sir Robert Hitcham Church of England Voluntary Aided School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helmingham Primary School and Nursery | 3 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Not published |
| Bedfield Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | Not published |
| Wetheringsett Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Stonham Aspal Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 45% met the expected standard |
| Earl Soham Community Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Laura Dumolo
- Phone
- 01728860201
- Address
- School Corner, Debenham, Stowmarket, IP14 6PL
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- URN
- 124774
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.