Alford Primary School, Alford
Alford Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Alford. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 73rd-highest of the 246 schools in Lincolnshire with published results, and 6,288th of 14,452 across England. It was 74% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lincolnshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Alford Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Alford Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 79% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 71% in Lincolnshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 67% in reading and 72% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Alford Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put Alford Primary School as their first choice and 36 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Alford Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Alford Primary School are St Helena's Church of England Primary Academy, Willoughby (2.4 miles); Huttoft Primary & Nursery School (3.4 miles, Requires improvement, 70% reading, 73% maths); The St Margaret's Church of England School, Withern (4.5 miles, Good, 88% reading, 100% maths); and Partney Church of England Aided Primary School (5.2 miles, Good, 22% reading, 22% maths).
Alford Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
St Helena's Church of England Primary Academy, WilloughbyHuttoft Primary & Nursery SchoolThe St Margaret's Church of England School, WithernPartney Church of England Aided Primary School
What parents say
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Alford Primary School (as of September 2025): 82% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (91%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
44.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Alford Primary School.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is John Spendluff Technology College, 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Alford Primary School issued 4 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Alford Primary School are John Spendluffe Foundation Technology College (under 0.1 miles) and Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy (0.5 miles).
John Spendluffe Foundation Technology CollegeQueen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's April 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Alford Primary School is a warm, inclusive place where children thrive academically and personally. Staff have high expectations for every child and provide expertly tailored support, particularly for those who need extra help. Parents love the school for its ambitious curriculum, excellent behaviour culture, and the way it helps children develop as well-rounded individuals.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally well-designed curriculum with clear focus on what pupils should learn and remember at each stage
- Highly effective support for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, enabling them to access the full curriculum
- Outstanding reading programme with consistent phonics delivery and daily reading, resulting in confident and fluent readers
- Excellent pupil behaviour and attitudes from early years through Year 6, with clear routines and strong relationships
- Strong early years provision with precisely designed learning activities that develop children's knowledge and independence
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre trips, residential visits, school visitors, playground leader roles, well-being ambassador roles, eco ambassador roles, music and sport opportunities, charity work fundraising for local food bank
Alford Primary School shows significant improvement across all areas since its previous inspection. Pupils are happy, feel safe, and are highly motivated to learn with excellent behaviour and strong relationships.
At a Glance
44.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
33 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 72% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.3
Avg class size
22.4
Infant (KS1)
27.4
KS2
12
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Alford Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Alford Primary School.
- Science Cafe Ltd400m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Alford Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lincolnshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Thursday 3 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Wednesday 14 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Wednesday 19 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Alford Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Alford Primary School is in Lincolnshire; for families living there:
Apply to Lincolnshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Alford Primary School
Will you get a place at Alford Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Alford Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Alford Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Alford Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lincolnshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Alford Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lincolnshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
74%
Available places
311 pupils
419 places
108 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Alford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Alford
Across Lincolnshire council
Places available
8,940
Applications
6,453
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.7%
All primary applications across Lincolnshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
43
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
19.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
304
Total Pupils
158
Boys
146
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
18
Teachers
16.9:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,975
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,832
Per pupil
£2099k
Total funding
£183k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
9.9%
Persistent absence
282
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Alford Primary School
Questions parents ask about Alford Primary School
What are SATs results like at Alford Primary School?
Of the pupils at Alford Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 79% did so in maths.
What is Alford Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Alford Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Alford Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Alford Primary School is oversubscribed, Lincolnshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Alford Primary School?
Alford Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 74% of its 419 places.
How big are the classes at Alford Primary School?
Classes at Alford Primary School average 25.3 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Alford Primary School?
Alford Primary School has around 304 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Alford Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Alford Primary School in 2024/25. 9.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Alford Primary School?
Apply through Lincolnshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Alford Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Alford Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Alford Primary School: Science Cafe Ltd (400m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Alford Primary School's term dates?
Alford Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lincolnshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Thursday 3 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Wednesday 14 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Wednesday 19 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Alford Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 4 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Alford Primary School?
Alford Primary School is at Hanby Lane, Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9BJ.
Sources: Lincolnshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)