SchoolScoresThe St Margaret's CofE School, Withern
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Main Road, Withern, Alford, LN13 0NB
01507 450375 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 October 2011.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 29 March 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
8 pupils in this year group.
Only 8 pupils took these tests, so results can change a lot from year to year. Compare with care.
88% — 29 points above the Lincolnshire average, and 26 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 88% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 38% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 88% | 71% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 88% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 100% | 71% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 104 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 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 | 10 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 10 |
| Of those, offered a place | 10 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 12 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 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, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 30.6% | 29.9%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 0% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 4.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 14.5%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 13.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Lower than 84% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 12.2%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. 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 4 state primary schools in Alford. 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 4th highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 5% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 13.9 | 19.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 14% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.4 | 9.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 4 state primary schools in Alford. Higher than 97% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 44.4% | 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 The St Margaret's CofE School, Withern's Ofsted rating?
The St Margaret's CofE School, Withern was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 October 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 29 March 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The St Margaret's CofE School, Withern do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 88% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 26 points above the England average of 62%.
Is The St Margaret's CofE School, Withern oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 10 families put The St Margaret's CofE School, Withern as their first choice for 10 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 10 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 120588.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.