Denton CofE School

Denton C of E School is a small voluntary controlled Church of England primary school that inspectors found to be performing at an exceptionally high level across all judged areas. This was its first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it had previously been exempt from routine inspection after being judged outstanding in 2013. Since September 2024, schools inspected under section 5 are no longer given an overall effectiveness grade, but the report is overwhelmingly positive throughout. The school has a strong community ethos and exceptionally strong relationships between pupils and staff. Pupils behave exceptionally well, value their education and achieve very well academically. The curriculum is ambitious and carefully designed, including for mixed-age classes, and teachers are subject experts who check understanding and address misconceptions swiftly. Reading is taught expertly, pupils with SEND are supported precisely and achieve well, and personal development provision is exceptional, with a wide range of clubs, visits and opportunities for pupils to contribute to the school and wider community. Leadership and management are also very strong. Staff receive focused training and report very positive views about workload and well-being, while leaders and governors evaluate provision robustly. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The report identifies no areas of concern or underperformance.

Strengths

• Strong sense of community with incredibly strong relationships between pupils and staff
• Pupils consistently meet high expectations and achieve very well academically
• Exceptional pupil behaviour and pride in achievements
• Ambitious, carefully designed curriculum that works well in mixed-age classes
• Teachers are subject experts who check understanding and swiftly address misconceptions
• Well-trained staff teach reading expertly, helping pupils become confident and fluent readers
• Inclusive provision with high ambitions and precise support for pupils with SEND
• Exceptional personal development through clubs, educational visits and community contributions
• Staff benefit from focused training and positive consideration of workload and well-being
• Leaders and governors robustly evaluate the quality of provision
• 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 Denton CofE School attended 96.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.6% 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 Denton CofE 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 Denton CofE School had 16.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 15.9% of pupils at Denton CofE School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.6% 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 Denton CofE School received £9,232 and spent £9,614 for each of its 63 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £52,000 (£819 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 Denton CofE School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Denton CofE School is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was Denton CofE School last inspected by Ofsted?

Denton CofE School was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does Denton CofE School have?

Denton CofE School has 63 pupils on roll.

What age range does Denton CofE School cover?

Denton CofE School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Denton CofE School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Denton CofE School?

Denton CofE School is at Church Street, Denton, Denton and Harlaxton, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG32 1LG.