SchoolScoresDolphinholme CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Dolphinholme, Dolphinholme Primary School, Lancaster, LA2 9AN
01524 791530 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 6 March 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
37 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Lancaster comparisons use the 14 of its 27 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Lancaster | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 9th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 96% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 8th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 95% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern Joint 3rd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 88% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 8th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Lancaster figures pool parents at the Lancaster schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
13 pupils in this year group.
85% — 25 points above the Lancashire average, and 23 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 85% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 15% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 92% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 85% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 92% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 112 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 111 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lancashire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 14 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 14 |
| Of those, offered a place | 14 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 39 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 19th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.3% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 17th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Lower than 48% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 16th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Lower than 62% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.9% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 22nd lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 1.28% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 17th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 37% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.5 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 4th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 88% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.5 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 19 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 71% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 19.2% | 12.9%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Forton Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ellel St John the Evangelist CofE Primary School 2.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cawthorne's Endowed School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Dolphinholme CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Dolphinholme CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 March 2024.
How did Dolphinholme CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 85% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 23 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Dolphinholme CofE Primary School?
92% of the 37 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend Dolphinholme CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Dolphinholme CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 14 families put Dolphinholme CofE Primary School as their first choice for 14 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 14 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 119526.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.