Hainford VC Primary School
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Hainford VC Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Norwich for boys and girls aged 5 to 11. It has 72 pupils and room for 87. About 15 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 76 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 79% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in January 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.
Newton Road, Hainford, Norwich, NR10 3BQ01603 898359harnserfed.co.ukMrs Ashley Best-White executive headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted visited on 13 January 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.
Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July 2021 | Ungraded | School remains Good |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
5 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | Norfolk | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 5 | 17 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 6 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 53% | 78% | 69% | 75% | 33% | 56% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 12% | 0% | 8% | 13% | 0% | 5% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | – | 106.0 | 107.0 | 102.0 | 105.0 | 99.0 | 104.6 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | – | 103.0 | 103.0 | 103.0 | 108.0 | 99.0 | 103.2 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | – | 104.0 | 101.0 | 103.0 | 105.0 | 97.0 | 103.2 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | – | 71% | 89% | 69% | 75% | 50% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | – | 59% | 78% | 77% | 75% | 33% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | – | 65% | 78% | 77% | 88% | 50% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | +3.1 | -0.3 | +0.8 | -2.4 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | +0.7 | +0.2 | +2.4 | +0.0 | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
24 places were empty (28% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 11% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Norfolk council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
What parents say
From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 34 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (9), language and communications needs (6), Autistic spectrum disorder (2), Moderate learning difficulty (2), Hearing impairment (1), Specific learning difficulty (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 72 | 63 | 73 | 72 | 69 | 73 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 15% | 16% | 22% | 17% | 17% | 16% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 18% | 14% | 13% | 16% | 8% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 6% | 10% | 7% | 4% | 4% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 3.9% | 5.3% | 3.9% | 5.3% | 5.3% | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 2.9% | 4.1% | 3.0% | 4.3% | 4.9% | 2.8% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.0% | 1.2% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.4% | 1.0% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 7.3% | 9.2% | 7.9% | 12.7% | 18.5% | 7.3% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
Staff
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frettenham Primary School | Council | 1.8 miles | 60 | Good 2024 | 63 | Compare |
| St Faiths CofE Primary School | Church of England | 2.0 miles | 80 | Good 2024 | 28 | Compare |
| Hevingham Primary School | Foundation | 2.4 miles | 101 | Good 2024 | 50 | Compare |
| Buxton Primary School | Foundation | 2.4 miles | 192 | Not inspected | 29 | Compare |
| Horsford CofE VA Primary School | Church of England/Christian | 2.4 miles | 354 | Good 2023 | 53 | Compare |
| Woodland View Junior School | Council | 2.5 miles | 157 | No overall grade 2024 | 39 | Compare |
| Spixworth Infant School | Council | 2.5 miles | 109 | Good 2023 | 76 | Compare |
| Coltishall Primary School | Council | 3.1 miles | 213 | No overall grade 2024 | 62 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Hainford VC Primary School with the 47 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 47 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Hainford VC Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyng Church of England Primary Academy | Academy | 9.7 miles | 87 | Report card 2026 | 95 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 76 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 76% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 42 to 92. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 25% | in line | -0.04 | 2024 results; 17 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | above | +0.20 | Ofsted report card, 0.7 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.01 | Contextualised attainment (no DfE progress measure available); 17 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | above | +0.09 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.07 | 2024/25; 55 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | in line | -0.01 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 17 pupils |
| What parents say | 5% | above | +0.03 | Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 34 responses |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Hainford VC Primary School a good school?
Yes, going by the figures. Hainford VC Primary School scores 76 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 79% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 42 to 92, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
What is Hainford VC Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 13 January 2026 it rated teaching as strong, achievement as strong, behaviour and attendance as strong, leadership as strong.
How many pupils does Hainford VC Primary School have?
72 pupils aged 5 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 87 places, so it is 83% full.
Is Hainford VC Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 24 places were empty in 2024/25 (28% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Hainford VC Primary School?
Pupils were in school 96.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 7% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
What do parents say about Hainford VC Primary School?
97% of the 34 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 100% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.
How big are the classes at Hainford VC Primary School?
The average class had 20.5 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Newton Road, Hainford, Norwich, NR10 3BQ
- Telephone
- 01603 898359
- Website
- www.harnserfed.co.uk
- Executive Headteacher
- Mrs Ashley Best-White
- Type of school
- Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 5-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Norwich
- Local authority
- Norfolk
- Ward
- Hevingham
- Constituency
- Broadland and Fakenham
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
- URN
- 121041 · LAESTAB 9263041 · UKPRN 10073405
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.