Lift Utterby, Louth

Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades Lift Utterby on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "The school clearly communicates the importance of good attendance to pupils and parents and carers."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum with the context of the school in mind."

Early years - Expected standard. "The school ensures that children in the early years get off to a positive start."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Every pupil is well known in this inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context well and recognise both the privilege and challenges that working in a small school brings."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a coherent and well-sequenced personal development offer."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to work closely with parents and carers to reduce the persistent absence of a few pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that the training staff receive to develop their skills and expertise is consistently embedded and leads to highly effective teaching across all subjects"; "Leaders should ensure that there are systems in place to check that children are accessing and benefiting from the breadth of the early years curriculum as part of their opportunities for play".

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at Lift Utterby reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 71% in Lincolnshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 62% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put Lift Utterby as their first choice and 13 named it as one of their preferences, for 7 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Lift Utterby are Lift North Thoresby (2.5 miles, Good, 69% reading, 88% maths); Fulstow Church of England Primary School (2.9 miles); East Ravendale CofE Primary School Academy (4.6 miles, Good, 82% reading, 59% maths); and Tetney Primary School (4.7 miles, Good, 75% reading, 85% maths).

Lift Utterby's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Lift Utterby is one of 62 schools run by Lift Schools, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Lift Utterby (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school and 100% say their child is happy there.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).

4.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 9 pupils (13.4%) received SEN support and 2 (3%) 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 autism.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Lift Utterby.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (adjacent), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lincolnshire (33).

Lift Utterby recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.