Sutton St James Community Primary School, Spalding

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Sutton St James Community Primary School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. 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 from their starting points."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders focus on attendance and set high expectations of all pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders provide clear direction for the curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders create a culture where every pupil feels valued and included."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leadership and governance provide a clear vision for the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Early years - Needs attention. "Early years provision needs developing so that all children achieve as well as they should."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teaching in the early years consistently builds on what children already know, with clearly defined learning purposes so that all children, including the highest attaining children, are suitably well prepared for their next stage"; "Leaders should ensure that the learning environment in the early years consistently supports children to learn, with clear and well-established routines, expectations for behaviour and noise levels that allow all children to engage fully in learning"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers across all subjects consistently identify and address gaps in pupils' foundational skills, including spelling and handwriting, so that pupils build securely on prior learning in all areas of the curriculum"; "Leaders and governors should continue to strengthen leadership at all levels, developing the senior team further to secure consistency, build capacity and sustain improvement across the school".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Sutton St James School, we recognise that your child's education is very important and special. Strong emphasis is placed on developing Maths and English skills but we also pride ourselves on our exciting curriculum ensuring that children develop a love of learning, their talents are fully developed and individual needs are met."

In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Sutton St James Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 71% in Lincolnshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 68% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 15 families put Sutton St James Community Primary School as their first choice and 25 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 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 Sutton St James Community Primary School are Kinderley Primary School (2.2 miles, Good, 64% reading, 73% maths); The Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School (2.7 miles, Outstanding, 86% reading, 86% maths); Fleet Wood Lane School (3.5 miles, Requires improvement, 75% reading, 75% maths); and Long Sutton County Primary School (3.6 miles, Good, 45% reading, 55% maths).

Sutton St James Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

2.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 25 pupils (17.9%) received SEN support and 10 (7.1%) 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.

Sutton St James Community Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Sutton St James Community Primary School.

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St James's Church (opposite), 210 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson, vehicle crime and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lincolnshire (33).

Sutton St James Community Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.