State Primary Schools in/near Bury St Edmunds

[persilbear]

Hello - sorry if this topic has been covered before, but we are moving back to the UK and I need to find a good primary school for my daughter, starting Sept 2013, in or around Bury St Edmunds. Do any of you lovely ladies have any advice/guidance on good state primary schools in the area? Thank you in advance

No personal knowledge of schools in the area, but I have an old friend who has recently moved from Suffolk because of job relocation. What age are your children, as I think there are still some middle schools in that area? Anything specific you want to know and I?ll try and phone my friend over the weekend?

Yes it's a middle school area...you don't mention your DD's age but Risby Primary School is outstanding and takes 4 - 9 year olds,

As of September this year there are no more middle schools in this area, we have gone 2-tier.

I second Risby primary as a friend of mine has her DD there, but my DD2 goes to St Mary's C of E Academy in Mildenhall - good OFSTED but I've had DD1 through there at the time when it was merely 'satisfactory' and thought OFSTED got it badly wrong - it has always been a really good school with excellent pastoral care. YrR was oversubscribed this year for the first time in ages but afaik the older year groups are not full, especially in KS2.

The other primary in Mildenhall is Great Heath, which is also a good school - we just chose St Mary's because of gut feeling. When I signed up DD1 they only took 10% of intake on church attendance, the rest on catchment and sibling priority.

I've lived in BSE for the last 13 years. Bury St Edmunds does not go 2-tier until 2015. As I work in one of the middle schools I am certain on that point. However, most of the surrounding area will be 2-tier from next school year.

In BSE itself: Sebert Wood Primary - Ofsted outstanding, on the Moreton Hall development, fairly middle-class, good reputation.

St Edmundsbury Church of England Primary - people kill to get their DC's in there. Town Centre location.

Guildhall Feoffment Primary - again very desirable, town centre.

Of the nearby village primaries, Great Barton is good, All Saints in Lawshall, Barrow and Risby both good.

Good luck.