St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
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St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Sudbury for boys and girls aged 5 to 11. It has 64 pupils and room for 120. About 20 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 17 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 19% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2024, no overall grade.
Church Road, Bulmer, Sudbury, CO10 7EH01787 372383chorusschools.ukMrs Jinnie Nichols headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 1 October 2024, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
10 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 | Essex | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 10 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 8 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 60% | 40% | 17% | – | 22% | 75% | 64% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 7% | 0% | – | 0% | 13% | 10% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | 104.0 | 103.0 | 102.0 | – | 103.0 | 105.0 | 105.9 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | 102.0 | 99.0 | 98.0 | – | 99.0 | 103.0 | 104.8 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | 100.0 | 100.0 | 98.0 | – | 99.0 | 107.0 | 105.3 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | 90% | 60% | 67% | – | 67% | 75% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | 60% | 47% | 33% | – | 22% | 88% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | 90% | 67% | 50% | – | 89% | 100% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | -0.1 | – | -0.1 | +4.0 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | -3.5 | – | -3.3 | +1.4 | – | – |
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.
59 places were empty (49% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 12% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.
How places were given out for September 2026. The last place was given under this rule: Criterion 3.
| Entry | Places | Applied at all | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Primary | 15 | 30 | – | LA |
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.
Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 7.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 18.0 (England 27.3).
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (9), language and communications needs (9), Other difficulty or disability (5), Physical disability (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 | 64 | 61 | 88 | 72 | 76 | 64 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 20% | 18% | 8% | 11% | 15% | 16% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 0% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 23% | 18% | 19% | 18% | 11% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 3% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 0% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.2% 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 | 4.8% | 5.2% | 5.3% | 7.0% | 3.8% | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 3.6% | 4.1% | 4.5% | 6.7% | 3.3% | 2.8% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.8% | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.5% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 8.9% | 20.5% | 12.9% | 22.7% | 5.1% | 7.0% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 4.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Gregory Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | Church of England | 1.7 miles | 227 | Good 2022 | 38 | Compare |
| St Joseph's Catholic Primary School | Academy | 2.0 miles | – | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| Tudor Church of England Primary School, Sudbury | Academy | 2.4 miles | 268 | Good 2024 | 23 | Compare |
| Pot Kiln Primary School | Council | 2.5 miles | 236 | Good 2022 | 11 | Compare |
| Woodhall Primary School | Academy | 2.6 miles | 448 | Good 2019 | 64 | Compare |
| Wells Hall Primary School | Academy | 2.7 miles | 494 | Report card 2026 | 38 | Compare |
| St John the Baptist Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School Pebmarsh | Church of England | 3.7 miles | 97 | Good 2023 | 58 | Compare |
| Long Melford Church of England Primary School | Academy | 3.8 miles | 207 | Not inspected | 36 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School with the 48 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 48 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 48 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hundon Community Primary School | Council | 8.9 miles | 64 | Good 2020 | 31 | Compare |
| Shalford Primary School | Academy | 10.4 miles | 73 | Good 2019 | 98 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 17 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 17% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 5 to 49. 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% | below | -0.14 | 2024 results; 15 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | in line | +0.01 | Ofsted grade, 1.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | well below | -0.28 | Contextualised attainment (no DfE progress measure available); 15 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | in line | +0.02 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | +0.03 | 2024/25; 56 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | well below | -0.14 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 15 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
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 St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School scores 17 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 19% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 5 to 49, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School not judged at its last full inspection on 1 October 2024.
How good are St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School's SATs results?
In summer 2025, 60% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 10% went further and reached the higher level. The year group was small, so the percentages jump around a lot from year to year.
How many pupils does St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School have?
64 pupils aged 5 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 120 places, so it is 53% full.
Is St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 59 places were empty in 2024/25 (49% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
Pupils were in school 95.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 9% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at St Andrew's Bulmer Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School?
The average class had 16.0 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
- Church Road, Bulmer, Sudbury, CO10 7EH
- Telephone
- 01787 372383
- Website
- chorusschools.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jinnie Nichols
- 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 Chelmsford
- Local authority
- Essex
- Ward
- Stour Valley South
- Constituency
- Braintree
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- URN
- 115067 · LAESTAB 8813008 · UKPRN 10068756
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.
- Admissions outcomes: Essex council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- 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.