SchoolScoresHorncastle Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of WELLSPRING ACADEMY TRUST
Bowl Alley Lane, Horncastle, LN9 5EH
01507 522662 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 1 May 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
58 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Lincolnshire comparisons use the 150 of its 279 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 129 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 | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 65th highest of 150 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 76th highest of 150 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 45% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 47th highest of 150 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 57% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 86% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 17 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 13th highest of 75 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 75% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 52% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 35 parents who had raised a concern Joint 55th highest of 135 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 48% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 78% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 18 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 27 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 93% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 75% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 71st highest of 150 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire. Higher than 44% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 13%). 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. Lincolnshire figures pool parents at the Lincolnshire 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
61 pupils in this year group.
57% — 2 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 5 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 57% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 67% | 71% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 80% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 72% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 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 Lincolnshire. 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 | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 55 |
| Of those, offered a place | 55 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 76 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 63rd highest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 80% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 39.9% | 29.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 169th highest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 60% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 180th highest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 14.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 184th highest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.6% | 13.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 60th lowest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 81% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 62nd lowest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 76% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.6% | 12.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 279 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.4% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 23rd highest of 278 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 86% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.0 | 19.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 18th highest of 278 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 81% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.8 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 62nd highest of 214 state primary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 70% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 18.6% | 13.4%* | 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.
Questions parents ask
What is Horncastle Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Horncastle Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 1 May 2024.
How did Horncastle Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 5 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Horncastle Primary School?
90% of the 58 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Horncastle Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Horncastle Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 55 families put Horncastle Primary School as their first choice for 59 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 55 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 148713.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.