Old Dalby Church of England Primary School, Melton Mowbray
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Melton Mowbray. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 19 schools in Melton Mowbray with published results, and 9,801st of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 108% of capacity.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Leicestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School in detail
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a village school near the town of Melton Mowbray, where we embrace village school values. At Old Dalby, we believe that confident, happy students make the best learners; with this in mind, we are always working to find new ways to inspire our pupils to keep the passion for learning throughout their time with us."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 62% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Leicestershire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 65% in reading and 85% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Old Dalby Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 52 named it as one of their preferences, for 27 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 Old Dalby Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Old Dalby Church of England Primary School are Willoughby Primary School (2.6 miles, Good); Ab Kettleby Primary School (3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 36% maths); Captains Close Primary School (3.4 miles, Good, 55% reading, 60% maths); and Long Clawson Church of England Primary School (3.7 miles, Good).
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 2 of them.
Willoughby Primary SchoolAb Kettleby Primary SchoolCaptains Close Primary SchoolLong Clawson Church of England Primary School
Who goes there
1.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 23 pupils (14.1%) received SEN support and 4 (2.5%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Staffing
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Old Dalby Church of England Primary School.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (outside), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often burglary and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Leicestershire (58).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Old Dalby Church of England Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.6 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; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2023 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
Areas Ofsted flagged
Early years (Requires Improvement).
At a Glance
17.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 65% to 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 85% to 62% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 57% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.2
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
6
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 Old Dalby Church of England Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Old Dalby Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Old Dalby Church of England Primary School is in Leicestershire; for families living there:
- Leicestershire's school travel policy: Mainstream School Transport for 5 to 16 year olds
- How to apply: Request for school transport on medical grounds form PDF, 359.48 KB Opens new window
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Leicestershire is 3 (the median across 329 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 Old Dalby Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Old Dalby Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Old Dalby Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Old Dalby Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Leicestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Leicestershire 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
108%
Over capacity
159 pupils
147 places
12 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Melton Mowbray
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Melton Mowbray
Across Leicestershire council
Places available
8,574
Applications
6,827
Got 1st preference
94.0%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Leicestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(4)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
23
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
16.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
163
Total Pupils
86
Boys
77
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
14.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£48,608
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,435
Per pupil
£949k
Total funding
£38k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.5%
Overall absence
11.1%
Persistent absence
135
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Old Dalby Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 62% did so in maths.
What is Old Dalby Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2023.
What is the catchment area for Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Old Dalby Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Leicestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School was full in 2025, at 108% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School average 27.2 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 Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School has around 163 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
5.5% of sessions were missed at Old Dalby Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 11.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Leicestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Old Dalby 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.
How many road collisions happen near Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Leicestershire is 3 (the median across 329 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Old Dalby Church of England Primary School?
Old Dalby Church of England Primary School is at Longcliff Hill, Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3JY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)