Bowmandale Primary School

Bowmandale Primary School is a community primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Barton-upon-Humber. In this October 2024 graded inspection, inspectors found the school performing exceptionally strongly, with all key judgements at the highest level and safeguarding arrangements effective. The previous inspection grade was good, and under current arrangements no overall effectiveness grade is given. The report highlights an ambitious and inspirational curriculum enriched with memorable experiences, excellent subject knowledge among staff, and strong support for pupils with SEND. Reading is central to the school, pupils make swift progress and attain highly, behaviour is exemplary, and personal development is extensive. Children in the early years get the best possible start, and leadership is reflective and well supported by governors. Inspectors identified no areas of concern or next steps for improvement.

Strengths

• Ambitious and inspirational curriculum enriched with memorable learning experiences
• Excellent subject knowledge and careful modelling by teachers
• Curriculum fully accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND
• Strong reading culture with high-quality support for weaker readers
• Pupils make swift progress and attain exceptionally well
• Exemplary pupil behaviour and positive relationships
• Extensive personal development and enrichment opportunities
• Early years provision gives children the best possible start
• Reflective leadership with strong governor contribution
• Staff are positive about workload and proud to work at the school
• Effective safeguarding arrangements

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 Bowmandale Primary School attended 96.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.6% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Bowmandale 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 Bowmandale Primary School had 23.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 6.6% 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, 12.8% of pupils at Bowmandale Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.1% 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 Bowmandale Primary School received £6,209 and spent £6,057 for each of its 345 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £141,000 (£410 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 Barton-Upon-Humber · North Lincolnshire local authority: places and applications

What is Bowmandale Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bowmandale Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Bowmandale Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bowmandale Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Bowmandale Primary School have?

Bowmandale Primary School has 345 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bowmandale Primary School cover?

Bowmandale Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bowmandale Primary School?

Bowmandale Primary School is at Bowmandale, Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, DN18 5EE.