Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School, Lincoln
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Lincoln. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Requires improvement at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2023. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 30th-highest of the 63 schools in Lincoln with published results, and 8,057th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Requires improvement (2023)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lincolnshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 74% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 71% in Lincolnshire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 87% in reading and 84% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 75 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School are Welton St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 86% reading, 89% maths); Ellison Boulters Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles, Good, 89% reading, 84% maths); The Hackthorn Church of England Primary School (2.3 miles, Outstanding, 100% reading, 89% maths); and The Nettleham Infant and Nursery School (2.7 miles, Good).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School.
Welton St Mary's Church of England Primary AcademyEllison Boulters Church of England Primary SchoolThe Hackthorn Church of England Primary SchoolThe Nettleham Infant and Nursery School
What parents say
95 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 91% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).
Who goes there
16.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 18 pupils (9.2%) received SEN support and 9 (4.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Allwood Road (opposite), 150 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a welcoming school where children feel cared for and enjoy learning. Staff are committed to every pupil's success and use strong teaching methods, particularly in reading. The school creates many opportunities for children to contribute to their community, build character, and develop into thoughtful, responsible young people.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with structured phonics programme and expert staff training
- Broad and ambitious curriculum with clear knowledge progression in most subjects
- Warm, nurturing relationships and positive school culture with high staff morale
- Effective support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils
- Good behaviour and significantly improved attendance through targeted family support
Areas for Improvement
- A small number of subjects lack consistent depth of teaching and pupils have knowledge gaps
- School has not yet developed effective processes to measure the impact of curriculum in some subjects
- Leaders need an agreed approach to teaching the most important knowledge across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture prioritising pupils' interests.
Extracurricular Activities
clubs, trips, residentials, school performances (such as 'Porridge'), community and charity events
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School is a Good school where pupils enjoy learning in a calm, orderly environment with warm relationships between staff and students. The school has improved from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating and is ambitious for all pupils.
At a Glance
16.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
95 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 declined from 87% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 84% to 74% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 77% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.0
Avg class size
25.3
Infant (KS1)
30.0
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School.
- Dunholme Kids' ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Dunholme St Chad's Church of England 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
- 1
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Dunholme St Chad's Church of England 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England 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
99%
Near capacity
206 pupils
209 places
3 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Lincoln
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lincoln
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
13.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
196
Total Pupils
108
Boys
88
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
16.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,721
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,233
Per pupil
£1241k
Total funding
£56k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
7.0%
Persistent absence
186
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
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School
Questions parents ask about Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 74% did so in maths.
What is Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.
What is the catchment area for Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Dunholme St Chad's Church of England 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School average 28 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School has around 196 pupils on roll. 16% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Lincolnshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Dunholme St Chad's Church of England 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Dunholme Kids' Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
What are Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School's term dates?
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 1 road collision in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School?
Dunholme St Chad's Church of England Primary School is at Ryland Road, Dunholme, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN2 3NE.
Sources: Lincolnshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)