Lionel Walden Primary School

Lionel Walden Primary School has maintained a good standard since its last inspection in October 2017, characterized by a welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and valued. With a strong culture of high expectations, the school emphasizes both academic and personal development. Pupils enjoy learning in a structured environment, actively engage in lessons, and take pride in their achievements. Leadership shows a commitment to supporting all pupils, including those with special educational needs, encouraging a positive and inclusive learning atmosphere.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between staff and pupils promote a positive learning environment.
• High expectations for learning and behavior are evident throughout the school.
• Effective early years provision prepares children well for transition into Year 1.
• Teachers demonstrate expert knowledge and provide tailored support to meet pupils' needs.
• Strong focus on reading ensures pupils become proficient and enthusiastic readers.
• Pupils take on roles of responsibility and contribute positively to the school community.

Areas for Improvement

• Some curriculum areas lack precise planning compared to others, affecting pupil knowledge.
• No clear strategy currently exists to ensure all pupils benefit equally from wider curriculum opportunities.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Lionel Walden Primary School attended 95.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.0% of pupils at Lionel Walden Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Lionel Walden Primary School had 19.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 11.2% of pupils at Lionel Walden Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.0% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Lionel Walden Primary School received £7,048 and spent £7,116 for each of its 205 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £70,000 (-£341 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in March · Cambridgeshire local authority: places and applications

What is Lionel Walden Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lionel Walden Primary School is Good, from an inspection in June 2023.

When was Lionel Walden Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Lionel Walden Primary School was last inspected in June 2023.

How many pupils does Lionel Walden Primary School have?

Lionel Walden Primary School has 205 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lionel Walden Primary School cover?

Lionel Walden Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Lionel Walden Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Lionel Walden Primary School?

Lionel Walden Primary School is at High Street, Doddington, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0TF.