Linden Primary School

About Linden Primary School

Linden Primary School in Leicester is a state primary for children aged 3 to 11, currently home to 435 pupils against a capacity of 475, so there is some headroom in the building. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 14.9%, which is below the national average for primary schools and suggests a relatively mixed intake. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 97 applications for 48 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.02 applicants per place. All 48 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, which is a reassuring signal for families who live close enough to make it their top choice. The school is non-religious and co-educational, with a nursery on site for the youngest children. Headteacher Christopher Taylor leads a school that has clearly built a solid reputation locally, given the level of competition for places.

Academically, Linden performs a little above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Leicester average of 62%. That places the school 31st out of 68 primaries in the city, and 6262nd nationally out of 13,686. Reading is a relative strength: 83% of pupils met the expected standard and 27% achieved a higher score, with an average scaled score of 106. Maths results are more modest, with 71% at expected and an average score of 104. Writing and maths at the higher standard both sit at 5%, which is low. Ofsted visited in November 2024 and confirmed that standards are being maintained at Good, upgrading from a Requires Improvement rating in 2017. The early years provision was also rated Good, and leadership and management were judged Good too.

The school offers a decent range of facilities including a library, sports hall, gymnasium, ICT suite, sensory room and playing fields. Clubs cover drama, choir, gardening, eco club, film club and coding, while sports include football, netball, cricket, gymnastics and dance. SEND provision is broad, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, physical disability and moderate learning difficulties. Parent View responses from 19 families between September 2024 and September 2025 show that 79% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and 79% felt the same about safety. However, 32% said they would not recommend the school to another parent, and responses around bullying and concerns were more mixed. This is a solid, improving primary that suits families who want a Good-rated school with a nursery, strong reading outcomes and a wide range of extracurriculars, but it is worth noting the split in parent opinion.

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