Southery Academy
Westgate Street, Southery, Downham Market, PE38 0PAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Southery Academy is a primary school in Downham Market for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 453 schools in Norfolk. It ranks 216th of 263 primary schools in Norfolk. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in November 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 November 2024, report published 13 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- 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 26 November 2024
Pupils at Southery enjoy coming to school. Older pupils comment positively about the changes they have seen at the school. Pupils in Year 6 wear their blazers with pride and take on leadership roles to improve their school. Pupils enjoy learning the ambitious curriculum. This has been thoroughly revised since the last inspection. Pupils achieve well because their learning builds gradually. They remember a lot of what they have learned and refer to this often. Pupils behave well. There are lots of things for them to do at lunchtime. Pupil play leaders organise games and activities. There is time to play, relax and socialise. Pupils show care, consideration and courtesy to each other. They say that behaviour in the school has improved in recent months and that there is always an adult they can talk to if there is a problem. The school has made pupil well-being a priority. The day begins with a bagel for breakfast and pupils enjoy this relaxed start to the day. Their attendance is high and they look forward to coming to school. There are opportunities for pupils to represent the school at different sporting events.
What the school should improve
- Not all staff have a unified approach to behaviour management and routines in class. This means that pupils do not always learn as much as they could because time is sometimes wasted between activities and lessons. The trust needs to ensure that there is a consistent approach across the school so that learning time is maximised.
- Some parents are not as confident as the staff and pupils in the positive impact of the changes made at the school. They have not received all of the information they need to appreciate the changes and improvements seen. This can lead to some parents questioning and mistrusting the decisions made. The school needs to improve communication with parents to allow them to work together effectively, support the school and have confidence in the changes made. su
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
13 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
83 pupils on roll, with places for 98
Schools near Southery Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilgay Riverside Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 60% met the expected standard |
| Denver Voluntary Controlled Primary School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 76% met the expected standard |
| Downham Market, Hillcrest Primary School | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 71% met the expected standard |
| Nelson Academy | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 63% met the expected standard |
| All Saints Academy | 6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 93% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- EASTERN MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Elaine Huntington
- Phone
- 01366377205
- Address
- Westgate Street, Southery, Downham Market, PE38 0PA
- Local authority
- Norfolk
- URN
- 142468
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.