Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Part of OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

The Drove, Sleaford, NG34 7AT

01529 304373 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 14 June 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths38%England 62% · 2024/25
13th highest of 13 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 5% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils146Room for 175 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 144 in 2019, 171 in 2021, 160 in 2022, 163 in 2023, 155 in 2024, 156 in 2025, 146 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.89 for 11 places, September 2026
15th highest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 10% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 14 June 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

29 pupils in this year group.

38% — 21 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 24 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 38% 59% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 14% 6% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 62% 71% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 62% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 45% 71% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 103 104 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 101 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 40%This school 2023/24: 42%This school 2024/25: 38% This school England 62% 2022/23 40% 2023/24 42% 2024/25 38%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered11
Families who put it first9
Of those, offered a place9 (100%)
Families who listed it at all18

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8

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 Roman Catholic 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lincolnshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
41.7% 29.9%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
15th highest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.6% 4.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
10.9% 14.5%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
21.2% 13.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
16th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Lower than 21% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.2% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
15th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Lower than 20% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
17.9% 12.2%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
11th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.6 3.5 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
14th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Lower than 20% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.9% 1.4% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 4th highest of 15 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 39% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.7 19.9 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 15 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 68% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.8 9.6 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 12 state primary schools in Sleaford.
Higher than 67% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
17.8% 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.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 14 June 2023.

How did Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 24 points below the England average of 62%.

Is Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 9 families put Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 11 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 9 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.