The Grove Primary School

About The Grove Primary School

The Grove Primary School in Melton is a popular choice among local families, with every one of its 24 first-preference applicants in the 2025/26 admissions round receiving an offer. The school was oversubscribed overall, receiving 60 applications for those 24 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.5. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though no parent-view survey data is available to confirm satisfaction rates directly. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 5 to 11, with a current roll of 193 pupils against a capacity of 266, so there is some physical space remaining. Headteacher Hayley Cheeseman leads a school where 60.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure well above the national average, indicating a community with significant socioeconomic diversity.

Academically, The Grove was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2023, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2019. The inspection gave Good marks across all five categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 48% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Leicestershire local authority average of 62%. The school ranks 175th out of 231 primary schools in the authority, placing it in the bottom half locally. However, individual subject scores are more mixed: 86% of pupils achieved the expected standard in maths, and the average maths scaled score was 106, which is above the national benchmark of 100. Reading and writing expected rates were 69% and 59% respectively, while the proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 3%.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, music rooms, art studios, an ICT suite, playing fields, a forest school area, and even a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, cross country, dance and gymnastics, while clubs include art, coding, chess, choir, film club and eco club. The Grove has a strong focus on SEND support, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. This makes it a practical choice for families whose children require additional support within a mainstream setting. Given its high FSM rate and oversubscription, it is a school that serves a diverse community and is clearly valued by local parents, particularly those who prioritise a supportive, inclusive environment over top-tier academic rankings.

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