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The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School, Spalding

Good
Primary
Voluntary controlled school
Mixed
Church of England
Ages 3–11

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Spalding. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2024 Key Stage 2 results were the 23rd-highest of the 30 schools in Spalding with published results, and 12,574th of 13,912 across England. It was 63% full in 2025.

SATs results
Below England average
Ofsted
Good (2015)
Demand
Every first choice offered
Attendance
Better than England average
New inspections, open days and news, by email.

Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days

Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lincolnshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.

Data last updated 27 Oct 2026

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School in detail

Results

In 2024, 67% of Year 6 pupils at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 50% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 70% in Lincolnshire and 76% and 74% across England.

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

Getting a place at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 12 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

Admissions history and your chances at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School

Compared with nearby schools

The nearest other state primary schools to The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School are Holbeach Bank Primary Academy (2.5 miles, Good, 46% reading, 31% maths); Holbeach Primary Academy (3.8 miles, Good, 67% reading, 62% maths); The Holbeach William Stukeley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (4.3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 78% maths); and Gedney Church End Primary Academy (4.8 miles, 58% reading, 67% maths).

Holbeach Bank Primary AcademyHolbeach Primary AcademyThe Holbeach William Stukeley Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGedney Church End Primary Academy

Who goes there

43.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 7 pupils (14.6%) received SEN support and 5 (10.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Staffing

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 7 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 The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Demand Responsive Area, 360 metres away.

The area around the school

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

Suspensions and exclusions

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

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

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Karyn Herd
Pupils:48
LA:Lincolnshire
Phone:01406701266
Address:St Marks Road, Holbeach St Mark's, Spalding, PE12 8DZ
Federation:Griffin Federation
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago

This judgement is from January 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.

-

Overall

Requires Improvement

Quality of Education

Requires Improvement

Behaviour & Attitudes

Good

Personal Development

Requires Improvement

Leadership & Management

Requires Improvement

Early Years

Inspected 17 June 2025View full report
URN:120549
UKPRN:10072040
Diocese:Diocese of Lincoln
Constituency:South Holland and The Deepings
Urban/Rural:Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.

What This School Does Well

The school excels at creating a warm, caring environment where every child feels valued and supported. Parents praise the nurturing approach and the close-knit community spirit. The school also offers a rich range of learning experiences beyond the classroom, including clubs, visits and activities that help pupils understand and respect different communities.

Key Strengths

  • Strong nurturing environment where pupils feel safe, happy and well-known by staff and peers
  • Broad and rich personal development programme that promotes respect for diversity and understanding of modern British society
  • Good early reading support for pupils at risk of falling behind, with well-targeted help

Areas for Improvement

  • Pupils are over-reliant on adult support and do not develop independence or resilience in their learning
  • Reading tasks at key stage 2 are not well-matched to pupils' needs, particularly affecting weaker readers
  • Curriculum and early years expectations are not implemented consistently across the school by all staff
  • Assessment is not used effectively to resolve misconceptions and adapt teaching to pupils' needs

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs, educational visits, residential trip to Norfolk

This small, rural Church of England primary school fosters a strong sense of community and is well-cared for, but its curriculum delivery and early years provision require improvement due to inconsistent implementation of the school's vision and expectations.

At a Glance

43.8%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2023/24

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

Reading67%
Maths50%
Writing67%

2023/24 academic year

Class Sizes

16.0

Avg class size

22.0

KS2

3

Total classes

2025/26 academic year

How Does This School Compare?

Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools

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Keep up with The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School

Term dates

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Lincolnshire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.

2026 to 2027

  • Autumn term: Thursday 3 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
  • Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
  • Summer term: Wednesday 14 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)

2027 to 2028

  • Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
  • Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
  • Summer term: Wednesday 19 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)

Source: Lincolnshire term dates

Getting There

Bus Stops

Demand Responsive Area
364m · 6 min walk
Telephone Box (adj)
558m · 9 min walk
Post Office (adj)
574m · 9 min walk

Free school transport

Check free transport to The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School from your postcode →

You apply to the council where you live. The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School is in Lincolnshire; for families living there:

Apply to Lincolnshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.

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 Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 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.

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Commute and house prices

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Your chances of a place at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School

Will you get a place at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report

Your home postcode, set against The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.

What the report includes for The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School:

  • The straight-line distance from your home to The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School.
  • We hold no last distance offered figures from Lincolnshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
  • Applications, first choices and offers at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
  • How many families in Lincolnshire 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.

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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

63%

Available places

44 pupils

70 places

26 spare places in 2025

2025, DfE school capacity data

Area Demand Pressure - Spalding

Medium pressure
New homes approved:2,206
Projected new pupils:552

Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Spalding

Across Lincolnshire council

Low demand council-wide0.72 applications per place

Places available

8,940

Applications

6,453

Got 1st preference

96.3%

Got preferred school

99.7%

All primary applications across Lincolnshire council (2026/27), not just this school.

This school: Every first choice offered

Inspection History(8)

17 June 2025
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesRequires Improvement
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementRequires Improvement
Early YearsRequires Improvement
8 May 2024

Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.

1 November 2018

SEND & SEN Provision

SEN Overview

7

SEN Support

5

EHC Plans

25.0%

of Total Pupils

2026 academic year

Provision & Specialist Facilities

No specialist provision recorded

Pupils by Need Type

Social, Emotional & Mental Health5
Specific Learning Difficulty3
Moderate Learning Difficulty2
Speech, Language & Communication1
Physical Disability1
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
85.4%
Black
2.1%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals43.8%
English as Additional Language4.2%

48

Total Pupils

21

Boys

27

Girls

2026 academic year

Workforce

6

Teachers

8.0:1

Pupil-teacher ratio

£74,195

Mean salary

2026 data

School Funding

£9,845

Per pupil

£433k

Total funding

£11k

Pupil premium

Deprivation£17,645
Sparsity£57,400
Lump sum£145,100

2025-26 financial year allocations

Pupil Absence
2024/25

4.0%

Overall absence

9.8%

Persistent absence

41

Enrolments

Authorised3.8%
Unauthorised0.2%
Persistent (10%+)9.8%
Severe (50%+)0.0%

Absence trend

4.6%
18/19
3.2%
20/21
5.9%
21/22
5.5%
22/23
4.0%
23/24
4.0%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

Questions parents ask about The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School

What are SATs results like at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

Of the pupils at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% reached the expected standard in reading and 50% did so in maths.

What is The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2015, it was rated Good.

What is the catchment area for The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

No fixed boundary. When The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Lincolnshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.

Is it hard to get a place at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 63% of its 70 places.

How big are the classes at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

Classes at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School average 16 pupils (2025/26).

How many pupils go to The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School has around 48 pupils on roll. 44% are eligible for free school meals.

What is attendance like at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

4% of sessions were missed at The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).

How do I apply to The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

Apply through Lincolnshire's coordinated admissions process, naming The Holbeach St Mark's 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.

What are The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School's term dates?

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School is a voluntary controlled school, so its term dates are set by Lincolnshire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Thursday 3 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Tuesday 5 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Wednesday 14 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Monday 6 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Wednesday 5 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Wednesday 19 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).

How many road collisions happen near The Holbeach St Mark's 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 Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 schools, same distance and years).

Where is The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School?

The Holbeach St Mark's Church of England Primary School is at St Marks Road, Holbeach St Mark's, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE12 8DZ.

Sources: Lincolnshire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)

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