St Lawrence Church of England Primary School

About St Lawrence Church of England Primary School

St Lawrence Church of England Primary School in North Kesteven holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained since its most recent graded inspection in 2012 and confirmed as unchanged in an ungraded inspection in 2023. That’s a solid foundation, but the real story is in the school’s academic outcomes. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure is well above the Lincolnshire local authority average of 57%, placing St Lawrence 13th out of 41 primary schools in North Kesteven and in the top 50% nationally. The school also performs strongly on individual subjects: 84% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, maths and writing separately, and average scaled scores of 105 in maths and 106 in reading are comfortably above the national benchmark of 100.

Where St Lawrence really stands out is in its progress from a low base. The school’s previous Ofsted inspection in 2010 rated it Requires Improvement, with leadership and management, early years provision and overall effectiveness all scoring 3. The turnaround to a sustained Good rating, combined with above-average exam results, suggests effective leadership under headteacher Helen Taylor. However, the proportion of pupils reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined is just 6%, which is below the national average of around 11%. This means the school is strong at getting most children to the expected level but less successful at stretching the highest achievers. Parents looking for a school that reliably delivers solid, above-average outcomes for the majority will find that here, while those seeking exceptional depth for very able pupils may want to explore further.

The school is oversubscribed: for 25 places in 2025/26, it received 39 applications, with all 25 first-preference families offered a place. That ratio of 1.56 applicants per place reflects its local popularity. Facilities include a library, art studios, ICT suite, forest school and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports provision covers swimming, cricket, cross country, gymnastics, tennis and football, and clubs range from film and drama to gardening and art. The school has identified SEND support for specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 201 pupils on roll against a capacity of 218, there is some headroom, but the oversubscription means in-year applications may be competitive. This is a good fit for families who prioritise consistent, above-average academic standards in a village primary with a clear Christian character and strong outdoor learning opportunities.

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