It is a great privilege to welcome you to St Benet’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery. Having now been Executive Headteacher of St Benet’s for over a year, I am incredibly proud of the progress our school community has made and, most importantly, of the children who make St Benet’s such a special place.

Our vision is for our children to flourish as confident, compassionate and resilient individuals, rooted in faith, guided by strong values and equipped to shape the world for the better. Our values of Compassion, Faith and Resilience are at the heart of school life and can be seen in the way our children learn, behave and support one another.

The past year has been one of significant progress. We have strengthened teaching and learning, developed our curriculum and provision for children with additional needs, improved attendance and seen encouraging improvements in attainment and assessment outcomes across the school, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics.

We have also continued to broaden the experiences available to our children through sport, music, educational visits, pupil leadership, charity work and our strong links with the parish and wider community. The opening of our new nursery has been another exciting development, extending our school community and providing a nurturing start to children's educational journeys.

Our June 2026 Ofsted inspection recognised many of the things that make St Benet’s special. Inspectors described the school as being “like a family”, with pupils having a “high sense of belonging” and being “happy and safe.” They recognised our positive relationships, inclusive culture and the way pupils embody our values of compassion, faith and resilience. We know there is still work to do and we remain ambitious for every child. Our focus is on ensuring that every pupil makes the progress they are capable of, that attendance continues to improve and that every child receives the support they need to flourish.

Our Catholic faith is at the heart of all that we do, while we are proud to be a welcoming community for families of all faiths and of none. We work closely with our parish, Diocese, Trust and families to ensure that every child is known, valued and supported.

I would encourage you to explore our website to find out more about life at St Benet’s. Better still, come and visit us. We would be delighted to welcome you and show you what makes our school such a special place to learn and grow. Just contact our school office to arrange a tour when suits you. 

Mr Patrick Kennedy FCCT NPQH
Executive Headteacher
Catholic Primary Schools and Nurseries of the Waveney Valley
St. Benet’s, Beccles and St. Edmund’s, Bungay