St Peter's CofE Primary Academy, Easton Review 2026: High-performing village primary with a clear Church of England ethos

A small Church of England primary serving the Easton area, this academy combines strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with the feel of a close, well-run school where children are known well. Leadership is shared across the Eden Federation, so families get the benefits of a wider team while daily school life remains rooted in a single-site community.

Academic performance is the headline. Results place it well above England averages on core measures, with particularly strong attainment at the higher standard. The wider picture is balanced, though, by a weaker judgement for Reception in the latest inspection, which matters for families weighing up the very earliest years.

This is a school where expectations around behaviour and relationships are clear and consistently reinforced. Pupils are described as happy, kind, and respectful; lessons and social times are calm and orderly, with rules understood and followed. The tone is purposeful without feeling severe, and the day-to-day culture is shaped by strong staff-pupil relationships and a sense that adults are attentive to children’s needs.

The Church of England character is not an add-on. A Christian ethos is embedded in school life, alongside a deliberate emphasis on respect and tolerance. Pupils learn about different faiths and talk with confidence about values and keeping safe and healthy. There is also clear evidence of community links through governance and local clergy involvement, which will appeal to families looking for a recognisably faith-informed culture, while still welcoming a broad intake.

The federation structure is also part of the school’s identity. St Peter’s sits within the Eden Federation of Church Academies, which operates with shared leadership and governance. For parents, the practical implication is access to shared expertise across schools, plus greater resilience when staffing or curriculum leadership changes, while the school retains its village scale.

Key Stage 2 outcomes are a strength. In the most recent published data, 89% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 48% reached the higher threshold, well above the England average of 8%.

The underlying subject detail reinforces the picture: 92% met the expected standard in reading and 92% in maths, with 84% meeting the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling. The school’s average scaled scores were 110 in reading, 110 in maths, and 109 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Rankings place the school well above England average. Ranked 614th in England and 2nd in Norwich for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), it sits well within the top 10% of schools in England on this measure. Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view nearby schools side-by-side on the same benchmarks.

Teaching is shaped by a curriculum designed across the Eden Federation, with thematic units intended to help pupils make connections between subjects rather than treating every discipline as a weekly silo. In practice, this approach can suit children who learn best when knowledge is revisited through different contexts, and it can make trips and local events easier to integrate meaningfully into learning.

In the latest inspection, curriculum ambition and staff training were clear strengths. Teachers explain new learning clearly, check understanding frequently, and address misunderstandings quickly. That combination matters in a small school, because it supports consistency even when classes include a range of starting points and needs.

Early reading appears well organised overall, with a phonics programme in place and targeted support for weaker readers. One practical watch-out for confident readers is pace; the same evidence base suggests that more fluent readers can sometimes wait before moving on, so parents of strong early readers may want to ask how extension and breadth are handled in guided reading and independent reading time.

As a state primary, the usual pathway is transfer to local state secondary provision at the end of Year 6. Norfolk’s school planning information indicates that Ormiston Victory Academy is a named destination school in the local feeder pattern for St Peter’s.

Transition support is described as structured and varied, including individual and group visits, a transition week, and home visits where appropriate. For families with children who can find change difficult, this level of planned transition work is a meaningful practical advantage.

Families considering longer-term planning should still look at travel time and the range of secondary options available from Easton. A sensible approach is to shortlist a small set of likely secondaries early and review admissions criteria annually, as patterns can shift.

Reception entry is coordinated by Norfolk County Council. For September 2026 entry, Norfolk’s published timetable lists applications opening on 23 September 2025 and closing on 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

The school is oversubscribed in the most recent admissions data available, with 41 applications for 24 offers, which equates to around 1.71 applications per place. That is not an “exam pressure” kind of competition, but it does mean families should treat this as a choice where a second and third preference matter.

The planned admission number for Reception is 30 pupils for 2026/27. Admissions criteria include priority for looked-after and previously looked-after children, siblings, and residence in the catchment area, with faith-related criteria appearing within the oversubscription framework for children living outside catchment. Where applications are otherwise equal, distance is used as a tie-break.

Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their likely distance and understand how it compares to recent local patterns, while remembering that distance cut-offs can move year to year based on where applicants live.

Pastoral care looks well established. Safeguarding arrangements are confirmed as effective, and the evidence base points to a culture where pupils feel cared for, included, and able to take part in school life. Behaviour policies are consistently applied, and staff are described as knowing how to arrange additional support when pupils need help managing feelings.

There is also a notable focus on wellbeing support in the wider school offer. Norfolk’s school information references access to a qualified counsellor, a Mental Health Champion, and an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA). There is also a therapeutic element listed as Lego or block therapy. For families who value early support for social communication, resilience, or emotional regulation, it is worth asking how these roles operate week to week and how pupils are referred.

Clubs are part of the school’s offer, and there is specific evidence of provision beyond the standard “sports and arts” headline. The inspection evidence highlights Tag rugby and a Comic Club as popular options, which gives a useful sense of both sporting and creative, interest-led activities.

School-published material also lists a wider set of after-school options, including Zumba Kids, Brownies, Library, Tennis, Netball, and Samba. For many children, that mix matters because it offers different routes into confidence and belonging, not just performance-based sports.

A distinctive extra is the school’s approach to animals as part of school life. Staff listings reference school animals, including a cat and two dogs, which may appeal to families who like the idea of calm companionship and responsibility woven into the culture. Parents of children with allergies or anxieties should simply ask how access is managed during the day.

The school day is clearly defined. Gates open at 8.35am, pupils should be in class by 8.45am, and the school day ends at 3.15pm, with a stated total of 32.5 opening hours per week.

Norfolk’s school information indicates that before-school and after-school provision is available. Specific session times and charges are not consistently published in the same place, so families should confirm current arrangements directly, particularly if regular wraparound care is essential for working patterns.

• Reception quality. Early years provision was judged Requires Improvement in the latest inspection. Families with children starting in Reception should ask what has changed since January 2024, particularly around outdoor provision, language development, and planning for different starting points.

• Oversubscription. Demand exceeds places in the most recent data available (41 applications for 24 offers). Even in a small village context, it is wise to plan preferences carefully and understand the role of catchment, siblings, and tie-break distance.

• Federation leadership model. An executive headteacher leads across schools, with a head of school responsible for St Peter’s day to day. Many families will see this as a strength; others may prefer a single-head model, so it is worth checking how parent communication and decision-making works in practice.

St Peter’s CofE Primary Academy, Easton stands out for its academic outcomes and its calm, values-led culture. The school suits families who want a small primary with strong Key Stage 2 performance, a clear Church of England ethos, and the added depth that comes from federation-wide expertise. The main caveat is Reception, where families should look for clear evidence of improvement since the January 2024 inspection.