Walsham-le-Willows Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Voluntary controlled primary school in Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk).
KS2 RWM expected
56%
▼ 6pp England 2024/25: 62%
2024/25
Reading expected
72%
▼ 3pp England 2024/25: 75%
2024/25
Maths expected
61%
▼ 13pp England 2024/25: 74%
2024/25
Writing expected
67%
▼ 5pp England 2024/25: 72%
2024/25
Attendance rate
95.4%
▲ 1pp England 2024/25: 94.8%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
18.9
▼ 1.8 England 2025/26: 20.7
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
17.1%
▼ 8pp England 2025/26: 24.9%
school census 15/01/2026
Capacity
84%
117 / 140 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Walsham-le-Willows Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a Church of England primary school located in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. The school caters for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. The Headteacher is Maxine McGarr.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
5 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Cooking
- Dance
- Football
- Philosophy for Children (P4C)
- Forest School
Awards
4 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
- Primary Science Quality MarkScience
- Eco Schools Green FlagEnvironment
- Nurturing Schools AwardRecognised award
Key facts
- URN
- 124717
- Type
- Voluntary controlled school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Suffolk
- Constituency
- Waveney Valley
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
Governing body (12 current, 3 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Jacqueline Ridding | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · until 2028 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Harvey | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2026 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Nicola Brophy | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2026 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Jill Wilshaw | Governor | Appointed by LA | since 2026 · until 2029 |
| Emma Drysdale | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2025 · until 2028 |
| Mr Ian Bartholomew | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2028 |
| Revd Catriona Brinkley | Governor | Ex-officio foundation governor (appointed by foundation by virtue of the office they hold) | since 2024 |
| Sarah Deering | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2024 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Emma Hall | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2023 · until 2029 |
| Mel Bignell | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2023 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mrs Maxine McGarr | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2021 |
| Daisy Parsons | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2021 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Nicola Brophy Former | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Jill Wilshaw Former | Governor | Appointed by LA | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mr Ian Bartholomew Former | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record