Sturton by Stow Primary School

About Sturton by Stow Primary School

Sturton by Stow Primary School is a state-funded, mixed primary school in West Lindsey, Lincolnshire, serving children aged 4 to 11. With 177 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is operating below its maximum, leaving some spare places. However, demand is clearly strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 42 applications for just 25 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.68. Of those, 22 were first-preference applications, and 22 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put it first secured a spot. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 18.6%, which is above the national average for primary schools, suggesting the school serves a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Claire Hanson-Church.

Academically, Sturton by Stow performs below the local authority average at Key Stage 2. In the 2023/24 results, 39% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Lincolnshire LA average of 57%. This places the school 37th out of 41 schools in West Lindsey and in the bottom 50 nationally. Looking at individual subjects, 61% reached the expected standard in reading and in maths, while 72% did so in writing. Higher-standard attainment was low: just 6% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, and 22% did so in reading, maths and writing individually. Average scaled scores were 103 in reading and 102 in maths. The school does not publish progress scores, so it is not possible to say whether pupils enter below typical starting points. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2022, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour, personal development and early years provision, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2012.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, sensory room, playing fields, dining hall, forest school and a chapel. Sports provision includes tennis, dance, athletics and netball, while extracurricular clubs cover coding, chess, science and art. For pupils with additional needs, the school identifies support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. There is no nursery or sixth form. Given its strong local demand and Good Ofsted rating, this school is likely to suit families living within the catchment who prioritise a stable, well-regarded village primary with a broad range of activities. However, the below-average KS2 outcomes mean parents focused on academic attainment at the highest level may want to explore higher-performing options in the area, such as Quadring Cowley & Brown's or Deeping St Nicholas.

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