School Chooser

St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby

Primary · ages 5-11MixedChurch of England127 pupilsNorth Lincolnshire
School Chooser Score
6
Well below
similar schools
Likely range 3 to 13
Out of 100. Better than 9% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedUrgent improvement teachingOfsted report card, February 2026
Reached the expected level at 1152%England 63%
Attendance95.1%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families29%A bit more than most schools
Parents would recommend31%48 Parent View responses
Places58 spare127 pupils, 185 places

St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby is a Church of England school (voluntary controlled) in Barnetby for boys and girls aged 5 to 11. It has 127 pupils and room for 185. About 29 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 6 out of 100. That puts it well below schools like it, ahead of 9% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in February 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

St Barnabas Road, Barnetby, DN38 6JD01652 688248stbarnabasschool.co.ukMrs Luan Sowerby headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 3 February 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
Urgent improvement
Achievement
Urgent improvement
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
Needs attention
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Urgent improvement
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Urgent improvement
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
Urgent improvement
Early years
Urgent improvement
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Ofsted has serious worries about this school. It is in special measures.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
4 May 2023S5 InspectionRequires improvement

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

23 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1152%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level4%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score103.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score104.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 46%46%20172018: 79%79%20182019: 48%48%20192023: 76%76%20232024: 66%66%20242025: 52%52%2025
Since 2017: +6%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017North LincolnshireEngland
Pupils tested232921332824
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths52%66%76%48%79%46%64%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths4%7%5%6%0%13%7%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score103.0104.0105.0101.0107.0101.0105.0105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score104.0105.0107.0103.0104.0103.0104.1104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score105.0104.0107.0104.0108.0104.0104.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard65%76%76%52%93%46%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard78%90%90%67%82%75%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)70%79%95%79%86%83%
Reading progressReading progress score-0.2-0.9+0.8-1.7
Maths progressMaths progress score+2.6+0.5-0.7+0.7
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged25%78%50%22%83%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged67%60%100%58%77%

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.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. 1 of the 3 gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
25%67%
Gap 42 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
33%73%
Gap 40 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%4%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

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.

A few spare places138 pupils for 161 places, 2024/25
86% full

About 23 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have fallen by 19% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

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 North Lincolnshire council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school31%England 87%
My child is happy here44%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe48%
Positive overall34%
My child is happy at this school
44%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
48%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
33%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
42% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
5%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
31%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
21% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
30%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
27%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
19%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
31%England 82%
I would recommend this school
31%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
34%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 48 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

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.

Pupils on roll127Census January 2026
Places18569% full
Pupils from low-income families29%29% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English2%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support8%10 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan6%7 pupils with a plan
Average class size25.45 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)32%£60,450 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls60 / 67
White British pupils90%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 29.0 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 23.3 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (7), Moderate learning difficulty (3), emotional and mental health (3), Hearing impairment (2), Autistic spectrum disorder (1), Physical disability (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll127139155158169169
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals29%36%30%33%26%25%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language2%4%3%2%2%0%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support12%11%11%12%15%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans6%3%3%2%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.1% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.1%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.4%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils0.72024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.9%4.6%5.3%6.3%3.7%4.0%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.5%3.8%4.3%5.1%2.7%3.7%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.4%0.8%0.9%1.3%1.0%0.4%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.4%12.1%14.0%14.8%11.4%4.5%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate0.70.70.00.00.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers5.9full-time equivalent, 8 people
Pupils per teacher21.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants2.6full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£53,812
Teachers who left in the year38%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies1
Sick days per teacher6.62024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,986England £7,738. Total £1.6m
Income per pupil£7,985England £7,697. Total £1.6m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,555England £3,480
Money in reserve8%Not much put by: £120k, £600 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£267it spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£7,986spent per pupil

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

Crimes within 500 m7112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate57 per 1,000 people37% lower than the England average
Typical house price£175,000North Lincolnshire
Nearest bus stop90 mCuthbert Avenue, 11 stops within 500 m

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.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Wrawby St Mary's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy2.4 miles108Good 202373Compare
Kirmington CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England3.2 miles38Good 202413Compare
Grasby All Saints Church of England Primary SchoolChurch of England3.4 miles89Good 202365Compare
St Mary's Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy (Brigg)Academy3.7 miles180Good 202388Compare
Worlaby AcademyAcademy3.8 miles49Good 202469Compare
Brigg Primary SchoolCouncil3.9 miles338Good 202337Compare
Ulceby St Nicholas Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy4.2 miles94Good 202435Compare
Wootton St Andrew's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England4.4 miles58Not inspectedCompare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby with the 45 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 45 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats9%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
Near the bottom of its group. Its score of 6 is 28 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 2 · middle 33 · highest 97100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 6 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 6% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 3 to 13. 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 atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%in line
-0.08
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 23 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well below
-0.60
Ofsted report card, 0.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
+0.01
DfE progress measure; 23 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.13
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
+0.02
2024/25; 125 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 23 pupils
What parents say5%well below
-0.15
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 48 responses

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 St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby a good school?

The figures are weak. St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby scores 6 out of 100. That is well below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 9% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 3 to 13, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 3 February 2026 it rated teaching as urgent improvement, achievement as urgent improvement, behaviour and attendance as needs attention, leadership as urgent improvement.

How good are St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 52% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 4% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby have?

127 pupils aged 5 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 185 places, so it is 69% full.

Is St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby oversubscribed?

Probably not. 23 places were empty in 2024/25 (14% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby?

Pupils were in school 95.1% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 10% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby?

31% of the 48 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 44% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at St Barnabas CofE Primary School, Barnetby?

The average class had 25.4 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
St Barnabas Road, Barnetby, DN38 6JD
Telephone
01652 688248
Website
www.stbarnabasschool.co.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Luan Sowerby
Type of school
Church of England school (voluntary controlled) (Voluntary controlled school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 5-11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Lincoln
Local authority
North Lincolnshire
Ward
Brigg & Wolds
Constituency
Brigg and Immingham
Setting
Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
118004 · LAESTAB 8133055 · UKPRN 10078492

Where these figures come from