Great Dalby School Review 2026: High-expectation village primary with standout KS2 outcomes

A small primary where ambition is made practical. Capacity sits at 140, and the admissions number for Reception is 20, so year groups are typically single-form; that tends to translate into staff knowing families well, while still offering enough scale for clubs and team sport.

The school’s own language is clear: Achieving Greatness, Together, underpinned by the “Dalby Greats” values of Caring, Achieving, and Persevering. In leadership terms, the current headteacher is Mr Nick Sale, appointed in September 2022.

Academic results are the headline. In 2024, 88.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, comfortably ahead of the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 30% reached greater depth, compared with an England average of 8%. These outcomes align with a school that sets the bar high, then structures learning so pupils can meet it.

This is a village primary where community rhythms matter, but expectations are explicit. The school emphasises consistent rules and a shared approach to behaviour across classes, which matters in a small setting where everyone sees everyone else at the gate, on the playground, and in the hall.

There is also a sense of continuity in the site itself. A local conservation appraisal describes the original Victorian red brick and slate school building dating from 1876, later surrounded by modern extensions. That mix often suits families who want a traditional village-school feel, with facilities that reflect the practical needs of a contemporary curriculum.

Leadership is worth noting because it is recent. Mr Nick Sale’s September 2022 appointment comes after a period of wider change, including the school’s membership of Bradgate Education Partnership (joined 01 October 2016). In a small primary, leadership choices show up quickly in classroom routines, assessment consistency, and how confidently pupils talk about learning.

On outcomes, Great Dalby School sits above England averages across the published Key Stage 2 measures provided.

The headline combined measure is strong: in 2024, 88.33% reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, versus the England average of 62%. The higher standard figure is also strong: 30% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, versus 8% across England.

Scaled scores are similarly high. Reading and mathematics scaled scores were 108 and 107 respectively, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 108. Taken together, that profile tends to suggest secure foundations in core skills, plus enough stretch for higher attainers.

Rankings provide another lens for parents comparing options. Great Dalby School is ranked 2,127th in England and 1st locally in Melton Mowbray for primary outcomes, using proprietary FindMySchool rankings based on official data.

A practical implication follows from this data. In a small school, year-group size can amplify cohort effects, so parents should look for consistency over time when they visit; still, these 2024 results are materially above England benchmarks, which is the key signal when you are comparing across nearby primaries.

The curriculum ambition is visible in how the school talks about sequencing knowledge and routines. External reporting highlights an ambitious curriculum that is designed so pupils can achieve well. The important parent-facing question is what that looks like day to day, and the best evidence here sits around early reading, maths, and classroom consistency.

Reading is treated as a priority, and that pays off in both outcomes and culture. The school runs systematic phonics, tracks reading progress, and uses regular reading aloud to build fluency and vocabulary. For families, the implication is straightforward: children who need extra decoding support are more likely to be noticed early, and confident readers are more likely to be stretched through book choice and comprehension work rather than simply “ticking along”.

Mathematics shows similar intent. The Key Stage 2 maths scaled score of 107 is well ahead of the England norm, and the broader combined attainment suggests pupils are not trading off one core subject to boost another. The advantage for pupils is cumulative; confident number sense in Year 6 tends to make the transition to secondary maths less of a shock.

SEND support is a developing area to understand carefully. Formal reporting indicates that processes for identifying and supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities have improved, with quicker identification and effective support, while also noting that adaptations are not always precise enough to address specific barriers in every case. For parents of children with additional needs, the practical next step is to ask what “adaptation” looks like in class, how targets are monitored, and how teaching assistants are deployed, rather than relying on generic reassurance.

As a primary school, the most important transition is Year 6 into Year 7. The school does not publish a simple “feeder list” of secondary destinations in the sources reviewed, and Leicestershire admissions patterns can vary by address and oversubscription criteria. The most reliable approach for families is to check the Local Authority’s catchment and nearest-school tools for their home address, then ask the school how it supports transition to the specific secondary named on their application.

What Great Dalby can control is readiness for that move. High attainment in reading, writing and maths combined, plus strong learning behaviours described in formal reporting, usually translates into pupils arriving at secondary with good study habits and confidence with independent work.

For parents considering secondary transfer, a useful conversation at an open event is how Year 6 prepares pupils for organisational demands, homework routines, and the shift from one-class teacher to multiple subject teachers.

Reception places are coordinated through Leicestershire County Council, rather than direct offers from the school. The published pupil admission number is 20, and demand data indicates that competition can be real: 71 applications for 20 offers, which is 3.55 applications per place, with the entry route marked oversubscribed.

The school also flags the key timing parents need to know. Applications received by the closing date of 15 January are considered first under the published criteria, and places are confirmed from the national offer date of 16 April. Leicestershire’s own admissions pages also note that applications for autumn 2026 entry have closed, with late applications processed after on-time submissions.

Two practical implications follow. First, families should treat the 15 January deadline as non-negotiable for September entry. Second, if you are moving into the area, plan early and use FindMySchool’s Map Search to understand distance and nearby alternatives before relying on a single option.

Open events are not consistently listed as dated entries in the sources reviewed. If you see older open-day items, treat them as a pattern guide rather than a live schedule, and check the school website or contact the office for the current year’s booking arrangements.

Small primaries often succeed or fail on consistency. Here, the evidence points to clear routines, strong relationships, and a carefully structured approach to personal development. Formal reporting describes pupils as very happy and well cared for, with strong attitudes to learning beginning in early years and continuing through the school.

Personal development is not treated as an add-on. Pupils learn about online safety and broader “rights and equalities” themes through curriculum work, and the school frames democracy and respectful expression as something pupils can explain and practise. For parents, that matters because primary is where habits form. Children who learn to articulate a view respectfully, and listen to peers, tend to find secondary group work and debate less intimidating.

Safeguarding is the non-negotiable foundation. The report confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

In a smaller primary, enrichment needs to be specific and doable. Great Dalby’s published club list includes netball, choir, dodge ball, gymnastics, and football. That mix matters because it covers both team sport and performance, plus options that suit children who want activity without the intensity of formal competition.

Wraparound provision also links to enrichment. The school’s after-school structure includes both clubs and extended care, with a range of sessions running after the end of the formal day. Breakfast Club is scheduled 7:30am to 8:50am, with after-school sessions from 3:15pm to 6:15pm, structured as three consecutive clubs or care blocks. For working parents, the implication is practical; you can build a consistent routine without relying on ad hoc arrangements, and pupils can access activities without separate travel.

A strong reading culture is also part of wider life. The inspection report describes older pupils reading to younger pupils in a dedicated reading shed at lunchtime, alongside pupil-led reading champion competitions. The value here is not the shed itself, it is the social norm: reading becomes something children do together, not just something adults demand.

The school day starts at 8:50am, with doors open from 8:45am, and ends at 3:20pm. Breakfast Club is scheduled 7:30am to 8:50am, and after-school provision runs through to 6:15pm in staged sessions.

Lunch arrangements include Universal Infant Free School Meals for Reception to Year 2, with Key Stage 2 meals priced at £2.65 per day.

For travel, many families in the village will walk or drive. Public transport links exist via local bus routes connecting Great Dalby with Melton Mowbray and Oakham, including Centrebus LC1.

• Oversubscription pressure. With 71 applications for 20 offers in the most recent entry-route dataset, entry can be competitive. Families should have realistic backup preferences in place.

• SEND precision. External reporting highlights that SEND identification and support have improved, but curriculum adaptation does not always address individual barriers with enough precision. This is a prompt to ask detailed questions if your child has additional needs.

• No overall Ofsted grade in the newest framework. The most recent inspection uses graded judgements by area rather than a single overall label. Parents should read across the specific strands that matter to them, especially quality of education and leadership.

Great Dalby School combines the intimacy of a village primary with results that sit well above England averages, particularly on the combined reading, writing and maths measure and the higher standard figure. The behaviour culture is a clear strength, and the school’s values-led framing gives pupils a consistent set of expectations across classes.

Best suited to families who want a small-school feel with ambitious academic expectations, and who can commit to the admissions timeline early. The limiting factor for many will be securing a place, rather than the quality of education once admitted.