Grendon Church of England Primary School

Grendon Church of England Primary School is performing well across all areas inspected. Pupils are enthusiastic, behave well and respond positively to the school’s high expectations. The school has a caring, family-like ethos, strong relationships and effective pastoral support, and pupils feel safe and well prepared for the next stages of their education. Leaders have created an ambitious ‘global curriculum’ and place a strong emphasis on reading, with phonics taught expertly and pupils, including those with SEND, reading confidently. Early years provision gives children a flying start, behaviour and attendance are strong, and staff and governors work harmoniously with a clear focus on pupils’ academic and social success. The main areas for improvement are limited. In a small number of foundation subjects, activities do not consistently help pupils achieve the intended aims of the ambitious curriculum, so pupils’ knowledge is not as secure in those subjects. The school also offers a somewhat limited range of extra-curricular activities, meaning some pupils have fewer opportunities to broaden their interests and develop their talents. This was the school’s first routine inspection since the COVID-19 pandemic and its first section 5 inspection since 2013, when it was judged outstanding and subsequently exempt from routine inspection. Since September 2024, schools no longer receive an overall effectiveness grade, but the school was judged good in each key judgement and in early years provision.

Strengths

• Pupils are enthusiastic, work hard and behave well in lessons.
• The school has a caring, supportive and inclusive family ethos.
• Pupils feel safe and form warm relationships with staff and each other.
• Older pupils take on mentoring roles and develop responsibility.
• The ambitious ‘global curriculum’ broadens pupils’ understanding of the world.
• The curriculum is carefully sequenced and reviewed regularly.
• Pupils with SEND are identified quickly and supported effectively.
• Reading and phonics are taught with expertise from Nursery onwards.
• Pupils, including those with SEND, read confidently and receive effective catch-up support.
• Early years provision gives children a flying start.
• Behaviour and attitudes to learning are positive across all year groups.
• Attendance is high and pupils enjoy school.
• High-quality pastoral support and memorable trips enhance pupils’ learning.
• Leaders and governors share a determined vision and work well together.
• Staff value the consideration given to their workload and well-being.

Areas for Improvement

• In a small number of foundation subjects, activities do not consistently support pupils to achieve the intended curriculum aims.
• Pupils do not build sufficient depth of knowledge in a small number of foundation subjects.
• Extra-curricular activities are somewhat limited, reducing opportunities for pupils to broaden their interests and talents.

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 Grendon Church of England Primary School attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 8.9% 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, 0.9% of pupils at Grendon 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 Grendon Church of England Primary School had 20.5 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, 6.1% of pupils at Grendon Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.8% 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 Grendon Church of England Primary School received £6,848 and spent £7,183 for each of its 114 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £42,000 (£374 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

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

The latest Ofsted rating for Grendon Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in January 2025.

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

Grendon Church of England Primary School was last inspected in January 2025.

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

Grendon Church of England Primary School has 114 pupils on roll.

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

Grendon Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Grendon Church of England Primary School?

Grendon Church of England Primary School is at Main Road, Grendon, Grendon Ce Primary School, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN7 1JW.