Linden Primary School

About Linden Primary School

Linden Primary School in Gloucester is a state primary for children aged 4 to 11 that is running very close to full capacity, with 418 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 420. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 25.4%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and suggests a catchment serving families with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 149 applications for 59 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.53, and 54 of those offers went to first-preference applicants out of 68 who listed the school first. That level of competition indicates a school that local families are actively choosing, despite the pressures that come with a high-FSM intake. The school is non-denominational and has no nursery or sixth-form provision, so it is purely a primary option for children from Reception through Year 6.

Academically, Linden’s most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023 rated it Good across all five categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. This is a consistent outcome: its previous inspection in 2015 also awarded an overall Good, though leadership and management were rated Outstanding at that time. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 53% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the local authority average of 59% and places the school 13th out of 25 schools in Gloucester, in the bottom half nationally. However, reading scores are a relative strength: 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading and the average scaled score was 104, while maths and writing were lower at 58% and 71% respectively. Only 5% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, so while the school is not pushing large numbers into the top tier, it is providing a solid foundation for most children.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, music rooms, gymnasium and even a chapel, alongside outdoor playground space. Sports provision covers netball, cricket, swimming, gymnastics, athletics, football and dance, and there is a healthy selection of clubs from drama and eco club to coding, science club and book club. For families with children who have additional needs, Linden’s SEND register is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, hearing impairment and physical disability. Given the high oversubscription rate, families outside the immediate catchment should be prepared to apply early and consider alternatives; the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Abbeymead Primary School, 3.6 km away. Linden suits families who want a well-subscribed community school with strong pastoral and SEND support, even if its headline academic results sit below the local average.

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