Sutton St James Community Primary School

About Sutton St James Community Primary School

Sutton St James Community Primary School is a state primary in the Lincolnshire authority of South Holland, serving 130 pupils aged 4 to 11. It sits 8th out of 32 primary schools in the South Holland local area, placing it comfortably in the top quarter of its immediate peers. The top-ranked schools nearby are Quadring Cowley & Brown's Primary School, Deeping St Nicholas Primary School, and The Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School, the latter being the nearest Outstanding-rated school at just 4.4 km away. Headteacher Claire Willows leads a school that is non-religious and co-educational, with a capacity of 140. The school is notably oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 37 total applications for 18 places, with 26 first-preference applications and 18 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.06. This level of demand suggests strong local confidence in the school, particularly given that 27.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure above the national average.

Academically, Sutton St James performs solidly above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 68% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared with a Lincolnshire LA average of 57%. The school's ranking score of 68 on this metric places it in the top 50% nationally and in the top 32% within the East Midlands region. Subject-level scores are consistent: reading averaged 104, maths 102, and 68% of pupils hit the expected standard in each. Higher-standard attainment is more varied — 42% reached the higher standard in reading, but only 11% did so in writing and maths combined. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds. Ofsted rated the school Good overall in its most recent graded inspection in 2016, with a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2021 confirming it remains Good. Leadership and management, early years provision, and behaviour and attitudes were all rated Good.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment with facilities including a Forest School, library, art studios, gymnasium, playing fields, and a sports hall. Sports provision covers rounders, football, athletics, cross country, and cricket, while clubs include Eco Club, coding, and chess. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, and hearing impairment. There is no nursery provision and no sixth form, as expected for a primary. The school does not have a religious character. Given its oversubscription and strong local ranking, this is a school that suits families living within the South Holland catchment who want a well-regarded community primary with good academic outcomes, a broad range of activities, and a clear commitment to inclusive support.

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