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OpenPrimaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 145541

Poplars Community Primary School

Academy converter · Lowestoft · NR32 4HN

Ages 3–11 · 260 pupils · Suffolk

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

KS2 expected (RWM)

60%

Overall absence

4.5%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2023-11-21

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)60%
Higher standard (RWM)2%
Avg scaled score — reading
102.0
Avg scaled score — maths
103.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
100.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence4.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)8.4%
Unauthorised1.7%
Authorised absence
2.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.2%
Enrolments in measure
273

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

21

Places offered

21

1st-preference offers

21

Total preferences (any rank)
40
Preferred offers (top 3)
21
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill43%

260 pupils · 598 places

Pupils on roll
260
Boys / girls
140 / 120
School capacity
598
Capacity fill
260 / 598 (43%)
Free school meals
47.3%
FSM pupils
123
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 3–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • NurseryHas Nursery Classes
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: EVOLUTION ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
EVOLUTION ACADEMY TRUST
Sponsor
Evolution Academy Trust
Headteacher
Mr Ashley Cunningham

Location

Address
St Margaret's Road
Postcode
NR32 4HN
Town
Lowestoft
County
Suffolk
Local authority
Suffolk
District
East Suffolk
Constituency
Lowestoft
Urban/rural
Urban: Further from a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (primary), Ages 3–11, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, 260 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: nursery, academy. Free school meals: 47.3%.

Open schools in Lowestoft
31
Primary schools in Lowestoft
20
Academies among open schools in Lowestoft
71% (22)
Open schools in NR32
19
Primary in NR32
11
Open schools in Suffolk LA
366
Primary in Suffolk LA
253

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in LowestoftNear NR32

  • St Margaret's Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Lowestoft · NR32 4JF · Suffolk

    Ages 3–11

    • KS265%
    • Absence6.5%
    • FSM47.8%
    • Demand0.98

    0.2 miles away

  • Roman Hill Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Lowestoft · NR32 2NX · Suffolk

    Ages 3–11

    • KS236%
    • Absence7.2%
    • FSM51.1%
    • Demand1.00

    0.6 miles away

  • Gunton Primary Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Lowestoft · NR32 4LX · Suffolk

    Ages 3–11

    • KS266%
    • Absence6.3%
    • FSM34.5%
    • Demand0.93

    0.9 miles away

  • Woods Loke Primary School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Primary

    Lowestoft · NR32 3EB · Suffolk

    Ages 2–11

    • KS268%
    • Absence4.0%
    • FSM17.8%
    • Demand1.12

    0.9 miles away

  • Red Oak Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Lowestoft · NR33 0RZ · Suffolk

    Ages 3–11

    • KS284%
    • Absence2.2%
    • FSM40.4%
    • Demand1.00

    1.5 miles away

  • The Limes Primary Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Primary

    Lowestoft · NR32 3BQ · Suffolk

    Ages 2–11

    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM32.4%
    • Demand0.88

    1.5 miles away

  • Phoenix St Peter Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Lowestoft, Suffolk · NR33 0NE · Suffolk

    Ages 3–11

    • KS264%
    • Absence5.2%
    • FSM56.0%
    • Demand1.00

    1.6 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Ashley Cunningham
Telephone
01502565757
Website
www.poplarsprimary.org.uk

Official links