Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School, Lancaster

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 5 strong standard and 2 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils acquire basic skills in early reading and mathematics as soon as they begin school."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff consistently champion the importance of high attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders expertly design the curriculum, taking into careful account pupils' needs and interests."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children enjoy extremely warm and nurturing relationships with staff when learning in the early years."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders' systems to assess and meet the needs of pupils with challenges to their learning or wellbeing are highly effective."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors work very effectively to ensure that pupils receive a very high-quality education."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed the school's personal development programme carefully."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Using the most up-to-date evidence and research, leaders should enhance their programme of professional development so that it has a sustained and widespread impact across all areas of the school's work"; "Governors should ensure that they hold leaders more robustly and consistently to account for all aspects of the school's work, particularly with regards to the effectiveness of the curriculum in subjects other than English and mathematics. They should have a greater oversight of the achievement of all vulnerable groups, in particular those in receipt of pupil premium funding".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Slyne-with-Hest St Luke's CE Primary School is a Church of England Primary school situated in the lovely village of Hest Bank, approx 3 miles north of Lancaster. We have 201 children on roll, aged 4 to 11. The school prides itself on its caring and happy atmosphere."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, athletics, choir, guitar, recorder and gardening.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 5:45pm.

In 2025, 85% of Year 6 pupils at Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 78% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 25 families put Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 93 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School are Skerton St Luke's Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 47% reading, 60% maths); Bolton-le-Sands Church of England Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 78% reading, 80% maths); Great Wood Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 85% maths); and Morecambe and Heysham Torrisholme Community Primary School (1.5 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 87% maths).

Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

46 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School (as of September 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 21 pupils (10.4%) received SEN support and 5 (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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Bare Lane Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Lukes CEPS (by), 50 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 20 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

Slyne-with-Hest, St Luke's, Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.