Lyncrest Primary School

Lyncrest Primary School is performing strongly overall. Inspectors found an ambitious curriculum, particularly in the early years, where children make rapid progress from low starting points and are extremely well prepared for Year 1. Reading and mathematics are secure by the end of Year 6, phonics results are typically positive, and pupils with SEND, EAL and other barriers make secure progress. Attendance is improving through close monitoring and a whole-family approach, behaviour is well managed, and pupils feel safe, cared for and part of a welcoming community. Leadership and governance are effective, with staff development and parental engagement as notable strengths. Safeguarding standards are met. Most areas are at expected standard, with early years judged strong. Writing is the main academic concern: outcomes have been below national expectations in recent years, and pupils do not consistently apply spelling, grammar and handwriting across the curriculum. Some older pupils show variable motivation and independence, and some pupils struggle to explain their learning, such as about different religions. Disadvantaged pupils' outcomes are well below national averages in reading, writing and mathematics, although small cohorts affect published data. Leaders are taking appropriate action on the identified priorities, including strengthening writing and developing the personal development curriculum. The school is smaller than average, has a low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals, and many pupils join at different points in their education. This was a full section 5 inspection. The next steps focus on ensuring consistently strong teaching, especially in writing, so all pupils achieve well, and on further developing the personal development curriculum so pupils can confidently explain their learning and contribute positively to the school and wider community.

Strengths

• Early years provision is strong, with children making rapid progress from low starting points.
• Ambitious and well-designed early years curriculum prepares children extremely well for Year 1.
• Strong early reading and phonics provision, with children recalling reading books enthusiastically.
• Effective support for pupils with SEND, EAL and other barriers, who make secure progress.
• Attendance is closely monitored and improving through a supportive whole-family approach.
• Clear behaviour approach and consistent routines have reduced behaviour incidents.
• Broad, ambitious curriculum includes high-quality texts and local history experiences.
• Strong pastoral care and positive relationships help pupils feel safe and belong.
• Effective leadership and governance provide accurate information and appropriate challenge.
• Rich personal development offer includes clubs, visits, music and online safety education.
• Leaders invest in staff professional development linked closely to school priorities.
• Parents speak highly of the support provided, especially for pupils with SEND.

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching is not consistently well implemented across the school, particularly in writing.
• Pupils do not routinely apply the school's expectations of spelling, grammar and handwriting across the curriculum.
• Pupils' work does not consistently reflect their very best efforts.
• Writing outcomes have been below national expectations in recent years.
• Some older pupils show variable motivation and independence in their learning.
• Some pupils struggle to explain their learning, for example about different religions.
• Disadvantaged pupils' performance in reading, writing and mathematics is well below national averages.
• The personal development curriculum needs further development so pupils can confidently explain their learning and contribute to the wider community.

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 Lyncrest Primary School attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 12.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Lyncrest 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 Lyncrest Primary School had 20.3 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, 13.2% of pupils at Lyncrest Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 Lyncrest Primary School received £6,953 and spent £7,011 for each of its 219 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £118,000 (£539 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).

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What is Lyncrest Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Lyncrest Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Lyncrest Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Lyncrest Primary School was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Lyncrest Primary School have?

Lyncrest Primary School has 228 pupils on roll.

What age range does Lyncrest Primary School cover?

Lyncrest Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 45% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Lyncrest Primary School?

Lyncrest Primary School is at Lyncrest Avenue, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN5 5PE.