Dolphinholme Church of England Primary School
Dolphinholme, Dolphinholme Primary School, Lancaster, LA2 9ANOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Dolphinholme Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Lancaster for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. It ranks 2nd of 24 primary schools in Lancaster. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 6 March 2024, report published 24 April 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 March 2024
Pupils are happy members of this small and friendly school. They enjoy taking on various positions of responsibility in school. For example, older pupils take on roles such as being a buddy to help children in the early years to settle in well. The school grasps every opportunity to make the curriculum as engaging and meaningful as possible. For example, pupils benefit from a range of visits from local residents who help them with different school projects and events. Pupils also enjoy completing outdoor activities in the school's extensive grounds. Pupils enjoy singing together; they sing the school song with great pride and enthusiasm. The school expects pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to achieve well. Pupils happily rise to meet these expectations. Overall, they make strong progress through the curriculum. Pupils' conduct embodies the school's values. This begins as soon as children start school. Children in the two-year-old provision and across early years quickly learn to take turns and to listen carefully to others. The overwhelming majority of parents and carers, who shared their views with inspectors, spoke very positively about the school. They feel a valued part of this tight-knit community.
What the school should improve
- The school has made some recent refinements to a few subjects so that the most important content that pupils will learn is identified more clearly. These changes are relatively new and some pupils still have some gaps in their knowledge. The school should make sure that these changes become embedded so that pupils know more and remember more over time.
- In the subjects which have been recently refined, assessment systems are less well established. This makes it more difficult for teachers to use assessment information effectively to find out what pupils know and understand. The school should make sure that teachers use assessment information more effectively so that they can address any misconceptions and shape future teaching appropriately in these subjects.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
13 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
82 pupils on roll, with places for 98
Schools near Dolphinholme Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forton Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Ellel St John the Evangelist Church of England Primary School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 71% met the expected standard |
| Cawthorne's Endowed School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 67% met the expected standard |
| Scorton Church of England Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 67% met the expected standard |
| Cockerham Parochial CofE Primary School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 54% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Miss Joanne Mather
- Phone
- 01524791530
- Address
- Dolphinholme, Dolphinholme Primary School, Lancaster, LA2 9AN
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- URN
- 119526
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.