Valiant Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, Suffolk IP5 3SP
10 reasons to choose Birchwood Primary School
Top line
Birchwood Primary School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 71. It is one of the best state primary schools in Ipswich and one of the 3 best independent or state primaries within 5 miles.
School fundamentals
Birchwood Primary School is a state primary school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 4 and 11 years. It is a community school. The school was also rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in its last (2022) inspection. It is one of the 20 most oversubscribed state primary schools for first preference Reception place applications in the Suffolk LEA.
Average class size
Birchwood Primary School has one class per year, and an average class size of 30 pupils.
Exam results
Average Year 6 SATS results from 2016-19 and 2022 show that Birchwood Primary School ranks in the top 24% of schools in the country by attainment. By the same measure, progress score rank the school in the top 26% of schools.
The Birchwood Primary School curriculum
School curriculum also includes PSHE, French. Subjects are taught separately and thematically (‘Wheel of Wisdom’), with cross-curricular linking. There may be an occasional extra-curricular academic or hobby club.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, weekly Forest School sessions for all year groups and a residential trip in Year 6. Eco Schools Green Flag accreditation for seven years.
Specialist teaching
Most lessons are taught by the class teacher with some peripatetic and specialist teaching.
Sport at Birchwood Primary School
School offers between 10 and 15 different sports over the course of the year. Representative teams in major sports from Year 3. School Games Mark Platinum Award and Association for Physical Education (afPE) Quality Mark with Distinction.
The Arts at Birchwood Primary School
Art and music are taught as discrete subjects to all pupils. DT, drama, dance integrated into other subjects. Choir and orchestra. There are some extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Out of school hours care from 7.45am to 6.00pm.
Find another school near Birchwood Primary School
Woodbridge School Prep & Pre-Prep (3.5 miles); Orwell Park School (5.4 miles); Ipswich Preparatory School (6.6 miles).
St John’s Church of England Primary School, Ipswich (4.7 miles); St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Ipswich (5.1 miles); St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School, Ipswich (6 miles).
Woodbridge School (3.7 miles); Ipswich School (6.4 miles); St Joseph’s College, Ipswich (7.3 miles).
Kesgrave High School (2.1 miles); Farlingaye High School (3.9 miles); St Alban’s Catholic High School (4.4 miles).