Ingoldsby Academy Review 2026: Small Rural Primary With Strong Key Stage 2 Outcomes

For a rural school, Ingoldsby Academy runs with an unusually broad sense of ambition. It is small, but it does not think small. Pupils can join from their third birthday, continue through to Year 6, and experience a curriculum that includes the kind of distinctive touches many families associate with larger primaries, such as Latin for older pupils.

The academy describes itself as serving a cluster of villages around Ingoldsby and Lenton, and its scale is a defining feature. With a published capacity of 110 and a recent roll figure in the low 70s, families can reasonably expect children to be known well.

Results are the headline. On primary outcomes, the school’s performance sits above the England average, and the proprietary FindMySchool ranking places it comfortably within the top quarter of schools in England. That combination, small school feel plus strong outcomes, explains why local demand can look competitive even with modest headline numbers.

Ingoldsby’s identity is strongly shaped by its size and its context. The academy’s own description places it in the South Kesteven area, between villages rather than in a town centre, with day to day life naturally built around local families and short rural journeys.

Leadership stability matters more in small schools, because the headteacher is more visible and culture is less diluted by scale. Ingoldsby’s Principal is Melanie Capes, and governance information indicates she has been in post since 02 January 2017.

The school’s stated values are framed under its Broadening Horizons language, with Aspiration, Ambition, Courage, and Respect used as the clearest signposts for behaviour and expectations. Rather than relying on grand statements, the school links these values to day to day habits, such as leading by example and taking school responsibilities seriously.

On relationships, the most recent official evaluation describes a calm atmosphere and positive behaviour, with older pupils acting as role models at playtimes. Bullying is presented as rare, and staff response is described as prompt and effective when it does occur. These details matter for parents weighing a small school, because small intakes can amplify both the best and most challenging dynamics.

Nursery provision also shapes the atmosphere. Children can start at three, and the transition into Reception is made explicit as a separate application step, which is typical for maintained nursery classes within primary settings. This structure tends to suit families who want continuity but also want clarity about entry points and guarantees.

Ingoldsby’s 2024 Key Stage 2 data paints a clear picture of above average attainment.

• Expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined: 86%, compared with an England average of 62%.

• Higher standard: 33.67%, compared with an England average of 8%.

• Average scaled scores: Reading 106, mathematics 108, grammar, punctuation and spelling 108.

• Science expected standard: 100%, compared with an England average of 82%.

These figures indicate a cohort that is not only meeting the expected threshold in high numbers, but also producing a substantial proportion working at greater depth. For parents, the implication is that the school is supporting high prior attainers to keep moving, rather than coasting once the expected bar is reached.

Rankings provide another lens. Ingoldsby is ranked 2,687th in England and 3rd in the Grantham area for primary outcomes (a proprietary FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places it above the England average and comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England for primary performance.

If you are comparing local primaries, FindMySchool’s Local Hub and Comparison Tool are useful for checking how these outcomes sit alongside nearby options, particularly when cohorts are small and year to year swings can look dramatic.

Ingoldsby’s published curriculum framing emphasises a planned, knowledge rich approach, shaped with subject expertise across its trust. The value for families is consistency. In a small primary, staffing changes can otherwise create unevenness between year groups, so a structured sequence helps pupils build knowledge in a deliberate way over time.

Reading appears to be treated as a priority, with a described whole staff approach to phonics and early reading. The official evaluation highlights consistency in phonics delivery, and a focus on building fluent reading habits rather than simply decoding. For parents of younger pupils, this is one of the most predictive indicators of future attainment, because secure reading unlocks everything else.

Two distinctive academic notes stand out:

• Latin for older pupils is explicitly referenced as part of the full curriculum offer. In a village primary, that kind of subject breadth is unusual and can appeal to families who want early exposure to language structure and vocabulary.

• Curriculum recall and retrieval is identified as an area to strengthen, with some older pupils finding it harder to remember prior topics and connect earlier learning with current content. The practical implication is not that the curriculum is weak, but that pupils may benefit from more frequent knowledge checks and planned revisiting, especially in Key Stage 2 where content builds quickly.

In mathematics, the curriculum itself is described as well sequenced, but delivery is noted as less consistently effective, particularly around identifying misconceptions and correcting errors early. For parents, this is a sensible conversation topic on a visit: how teachers check understanding in the moment, what happens when a pupil is stuck, and how staff share approaches across classes.

For a primary school, transition is partly about practical preparation and partly about confidence. Ingoldsby highlights leadership roles for pupils, including house captains and school council representatives, which helps Year 6 pupils practise responsibility and speaking up before moving into larger secondary settings.

Secondary transfer in Lincolnshire can look different from areas without selection, because some families pursue grammar routes while others prioritise local comprehensive options. The school runs an 11 plus themed club, and parents considering selective pathways should treat that as a sign that local interest exists, while remembering that the Lincolnshire process and suitability varies child to child.

If your focus is simply finding the best secondary fit, the best approach is to start in Year 5 with a shortlist and then use Year 6 open events and transport realities to narrow it down. Rural travel time can become the deciding factor as much as academic preference.

Ingoldsby Academy is part of the David Ross Education Trust, and the trust is the admissions authority. Reception applications follow Lincolnshire’s co-ordinated admissions process rather than being handled solely by the school.

For Reception entry, the published admissions policy sets out the standard timing:

• Application deadline: 15 January (annual cycle)

• National Offer Day: 16 April (or the next working day)

These timings are helpful anchors, but parents should always check the current year’s local authority guidance for the precise calendar dates that apply to their entry year.

A key practical point is that attending the nursery does not remove the need to apply for Reception, families still need to submit a separate Reception application for the following September.

Demand is worth understanding. Recent admissions data indicates 12 applications for 6 offers, which is around 2 applications per place, and is marked as oversubscribed. That is not a huge urban style competition level, but in a small school it can still mean limited flexibility for late movers.

There is no published “last distance offered” figure here to guide proximity assumptions. Families who are relying on location should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to understand their precise distance and to avoid over confidence about entry based on a postcode alone.

Pastoral systems in small primaries often work best when they are simple, consistent, and visible. Ingoldsby’s safeguarding arrangements are described as effective, with staff training, appropriate checks, and willingness to work with external agencies where needed. Pupils are also described as feeling safe, including online, and confident about speaking to staff if something worries them.

The SEND picture is presented as inclusive rather than specialist, which fits a mainstream primary. The school outlines support through small group or individual interventions and, where appropriate, involvement from external services such as educational psychology and speech and language. For parents, the key question is always resourcing: how the school prioritises support when cohorts are small, and how progress is reviewed term by term.

Attendance culture is also addressed directly. The school states that the day starts promptly at 8.50am, and makes a clear link between punctuality and the start of core learning, particularly reading.

A small roll does not have to mean narrow opportunities, and Ingoldsby makes extracurricular choice part of its identity.

The school lists a rotating set of clubs, including Recorders, Film Club, Dance, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Cross Country, Art Club, Singing, Gardening, and Young Enterprise, as well as individual music tuition. The practical advantage is that pupils can try different activities without being locked into one “main” identity too early. In small schools, that variety can also help friendships form across year groups.

Sport is given a clear profile. The academy states that pupils take part in competitions against other local schools and within the trust, and highlights dance as a weekly entitlement for all pupils. That kind of guaranteed curriculum time matters, because it normalises participation rather than reserving performance activities for a confident minority.

Swimming is another concrete example. The school states it can plan swimming lessons for Years 1 to 6 for half the academic year, with pupils swimming one term each year at Meres Leisure Centre in Grantham. For parents, the implication is straightforward: swimming competence is being supported in a structured way, rather than left to ad hoc experiences.

Trips are referenced as a regular part of learning, with examples in the school calendar indicating activities such as trips and themed days. While dates change year by year, the more important point is that trips are built into the rhythm of the year rather than being occasional add ons.

This is a state funded school with no tuition fees. Parents should still plan for normal costs such as uniform, trips, and optional extras like individual music tuition.

Start time

The school states a prompt start at 8.50am.

Finish time

A clear published finish time is not consistently stated across the school’s public pages, so families should confirm collection times directly.

Wraparound care is referenced as part of the school’s offer, and the academy also describes links with a local early years centre that provides before and after school care, holiday provision, and minibus transport to and from the school.

For transport, the school outlines its rural position near the A15 and B1176 routes between Grantham and Corby Glen. It also notes that free transport may be available for eligible pupils living more than 2 miles away, where the academy is the nearest primary school.

• Small cohort dynamics. With roll numbers in the low 70s, the experience is personal, but friendship groups can be smaller and year group mix can shape daily life more than in a larger primary.

• Curriculum recall is a current focus. External evaluation notes that some older pupils do not always recall previous learning well, so families should ask how retrieval and recap are built into Key Stage 2 routines.

• Mathematics consistency. The mathematics curriculum is described as well planned, but delivery is noted as uneven at times, particularly around addressing misconceptions quickly.

• Admission planning still matters. Even small primaries can be competitive. Recent admissions data indicates oversubscription, so families moving into the area should not assume places are always available.

Ingoldsby Academy suits families who want a genuinely small rural primary where children are known well, routines are clear, and outcomes are strong against England benchmarks. The strongest fit is for families who value both attainment and breadth, with opportunities like Latin, music, and varied clubs adding depth to the core offer. Admission is the main uncertainty, not because competition looks urban scale, but because a small school has fewer spare places when demand rises.