The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School, Gainsborough

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades The Gainsborough Parish Church 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.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are rigorous in their response when pupils do not attend well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the quality of the curriculum, teaching and learning across the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a positive start in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders and staff know pupils well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have made rapid progress since the last inspection."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that the personal development programme reflects the context of the school."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Leaders are taking action to improve the achievement of pupils."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the well-designed curriculum is taught consistently well in all subjects and year groups, so that pupils secure the knowledge and skills they need for their next steps"; "Leaders should continue their work to improve pupils' achievement, across all areas of learning, and build on the improvements already made, so that pupils build the depth of knowledge they need"; "Leaders should further strengthen their work to improve attendance, with a particular focus on disadvantaged pupils, to ensure that all pupils come to school as often as possible"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop a deeper and more detailed knowledge of the school's values and fundamental British values".

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Parish, we believe that every individual is precious, unique and worthy of dignity. As a school family, we are committed to valuing each person as they are, building strong relationships and seeking first to understand one another. In doing so, we nurture a community rooted in hope, where everyone feels a true sense of belonging."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care, from £3.50 per morning.

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 71% in Lincolnshire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 61% in reading and 48% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 25 families put The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School as their first choice and 52 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School are Mercer's Wood Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 54% reading, 68% maths); Castle Wood Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 61% reading, 68% maths); White's Wood Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 44% reading, 44% maths); and The Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy (0.8 miles, Outstanding).

The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School is one of 24 schools run by Lincoln Anglican Academy Trust, an academy trust.

26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School (as of April 2026): 92% would recommend the school, 85% say their child is happy there and 0% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (0%).

49.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 39 pupils (15.3%) received SEN support and 17 (6.7%) 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.

The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School has a SEN unit for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, autism and moderate learning difficulties: 13 places, 13 pupils on roll.

The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Gainsborough Central Rail Station, about 590 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Balfour Street (adjacent), 200 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 266 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lincolnshire (33), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to The Gainsborough Parish Church Primary School are The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough (0.6 miles); and The Gainsborough Academy (1 mile).