Barrowby Church of England Primary School

Barrowby Church of England Primary School is performing exceptionally well across all areas. Pupils are happy, feel valued and achieve very well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The curriculum is broad, ambitious and carefully sequenced from the early years, and teachers check understanding skilfully and help pupils recall and connect their learning. Reading is taught expertly, with early identification and personalised support for any pupil at risk of falling behind. Behaviour is exceptional, attendance is high and pupils take part enthusiastically in a wide range of leadership and wider opportunities. Personal development is exemplary, and pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain. Staff are proud to work at the school, feel well supported in relation to workload and well-being, and leaders constantly review and improve provision. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was the school's first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection since 2011, when it was judged outstanding and later exempt from routine inspection. Since September 2024, schools are no longer awarded an overall effectiveness grade. The report identifies no areas of concern.

Strengths

• Broad, ambitious and inspiring curriculum that builds knowledge exceptionally well
• Highly effective teaching with regular checks on understanding and skilful correction of misconceptions
• Strong early years provision that prepares children very well for key stage 1
• Expert reading teaching that develops accurate readers and a love of reading
• Prompt identification and effective bespoke support for pupils with SEND
• Exceptional pupil behaviour and high attendance
• Exemplary personal development with a wide wider offer in sport, music and the arts
• Strong preparation for life in modern Britain, including British values and protected characteristics
• A culture of continuous improvement with swift action to develop provision
• Positive staff workload and well-being support

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 Barrowby Church of England Primary School attended 97.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 3.3% 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 Barrowby Church of England 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 Barrowby Church of England Primary School had 23.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.2% 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, 9.1% of pupils at Barrowby Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% 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 Barrowby Church of England Primary School received £6,575 and spent £6,259 for each of its 241 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £168,000 (£696 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 Grantham · Lincolnshire local authority: places and applications

What is Barrowby Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Barrowby Church of England Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was Barrowby Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Barrowby Church of England Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does Barrowby Church of England Primary School have?

Barrowby Church of England Primary School has 241 pupils on roll.

What age range does Barrowby Church of England Primary School cover?

Barrowby Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Barrowby Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Barrowby Church of England Primary School?

Barrowby Church of England Primary School is at Church Street, Barrowby, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 1BX.