Lovington Church of England Primary School
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Lovington Church of England Primary School is a sponsored academy in Castle Cary for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 35 pupils and room for 60. About 20 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 1 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 5% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inadequate, back in 2023.
Lovington, Castle Cary, BA7 7PX01963 240305lovingtonprimary.co.ukMrs Megan Small headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted's last full inspection was on 12 October 2023, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.
Inadequate overall.
Ofsted has serious worries about this school. It is in special measures.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 13 July 2022 | Ungraded | School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next |
Results
Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025
3 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England. With a year group this small, a couple of children can move the percentages a long way. These are the results of Lovington Church of England Primary School, the school this one replaced.
All Year 6 measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025† | 2024† | 2023† | 2019† | 2018† | 2017† | Somerset | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils tested | 3 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 7 | – | – |
| Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 63% | – | – | – | 71% | 60% | 63% |
| Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths | – | 13% | – | – | – | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Reading scoreReading average scaled score | – | 111.0 | – | – | – | 106.0 | 105.1 | 105.6 |
| Maths scoreMaths average scaled score | – | 107.0 | – | – | – | 103.0 | 103.7 | 104.6 |
| Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score | – | 110.0 | – | – | – | 108.0 | 104.5 | 105.2 |
| Expected level: readingReading expected standard | – | 88% | – | – | – | 86% | – | – |
| Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard | – | 75% | – | – | – | 71% | – | – |
| Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed) | – | 88% | – | – | – | 100% | – | – |
| Reading progressReading progress score | – | – | – | – | – | -1.5 | – | – |
| Maths progressMaths progress score | – | – | – | – | – | -4.1 | – | – |
There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.
† These results are for Lovington Church of England Primary School, the school this one replaced in December 2024. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published. As a Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.
28 places were empty (47% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in.
Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Somerset council's admissions booklet, send it to us.
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Moderate learning difficulty (2), Specific learning difficulty (2), Autistic spectrum disorder (1), Severe learning difficulty (1), emotional and mental health (1).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 35 | 29 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 20% | 21% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 6% | 7% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 14% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 4% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 96.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24† | 2022/23† | 2021/22† | 2020/21† | 2018/19† | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 3.9% | 5.1% | 5.8% | 6.4% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 2.7% | 4.5% | 3.5% | 5.4% | 3.7% | 3.1% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2.3% | 1.0% | 0.7% | 1.1% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 6.7% | 12.5% | 11.1% | 19.6% | 14.6% | 2.7% | 12.8% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 0.0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
† These attendance figures are for Lovington Church of England Primary School, the school this one replaced in December 2024. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keinton Mandeville Primary School | Council | 2.8 miles | 149 | Good 2022 | 65 | Compare |
| Castle Cary Community Primary School | Academy | 2.9 miles | 177 | Requires improvement 2021 | 16 | Compare |
| Ditcheat Primary School | Council | 3.5 miles | 89 | Report card 2026 | 34 | Compare |
| North Cadbury Church of England Primary School | Academy | 3.5 miles | 100 | Good 2023 | 86 | Compare |
| Baltonsborough Church of England VC Primary School | Academy | 3.7 miles | 70 | Requires improvement 2023 | – | Compare |
| Charlton Mackrell CofE Primary School | Church of England | 4.4 miles | 89 | Good 2023 | 72 | Compare |
| Countess Gytha Primary School | Academy | 4.4 miles | 184 | Good 2023 | 91 | Compare |
| Butleigh Church of England Primary School | Academy | 4.7 miles | 98 | Good 2023 | – | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares Lovington Church of England Primary School with the 43 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 43 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 43 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Lovington Church of England Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepton Beauchamp Church School | Academy | 14.9 miles | 23 | No overall grade 2024 | 41 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 1 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 1% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 0 to 2. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | well below | -2.00 | Ofsted grade, 2.9 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 0% | no data | – | |
| Direction of travel over five years | 0% | no data | – | |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | above | +0.14 | 2024/25; 30 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 0% | no data | – | |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is Lovington Church of England Primary School a good school?
The figures are weak. Lovington Church of England Primary School scores 1 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 5% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 0 to 2, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.
What is Lovington Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Lovington Church of England Primary School inadequate at its last full inspection on 12 October 2023.
How many pupils does Lovington Church of England Primary School have?
35 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 60 places, so it is 58% full.
Is Lovington Church of England Primary School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 28 places were empty in 2024/25 (47% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at Lovington Church of England Primary School?
Pupils were in school 96.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 7% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at Lovington Church of England Primary School?
The average class had 11.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- Lovington, Castle Cary, BA7 7PX
- Telephone
- 01963 240305
- Website
- www.lovingtonprimary.co.uk
- Headteacher
- Mrs Megan Small
- Type of school
- Sponsored academy (Academy sponsor led, academies)
- Phase
- Primary school, ages 4-11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England, Diocese of Bath and Wells
- Multi-academy trust
- Ppat Education (15 schools)
- Local authority
- Somerset
- Ward
- Castle Cary
- Constituency
- Glastonbury and Somerton
- Setting
- Smaller rural: Further from a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 December 2024 (new provision)
- URN
- 151295 · LAESTAB 9332077 · UKPRN 10096333
- Formerly
- Lovington Church of England Primary School
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- Year 6 results: DfE key stage 2 tables, 2024/25.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.