Lingham Primary School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 2 June 2026

As pupils walk through the school gates, they are greeted warmly by staff. This positivity is infectious. For almost all pupils, the school day begins with breakfast. This provides pupils with food, drinks and the opportunity to check in with a friend or a trusted adult. Pupils value this wholesome start. It helps them to feel a sense of belonging. Pupils are proud to attend their school. Relationships between staff and pupils are extremely positive. Pupils feel safe and say that bullying is rare. If they have any concerns, pupils know that staff will listen to them and help. Pupils are polite and respectful towards adults and each other. Behaviour around the school is calm and orderly. Pupils understand the school's high expectations. They value the support provided by staff. However, not all pupils attend school as well as they should. This means important learning time is missed. Leaders recognise this issue. They are working with families to improve attendance and remove other barriers to learning. Pupils understand the importance of respect and kindness. They strive to do things the ‘Lingham Way’. Pupils welcome opportunities to contribute to school life through roles such as school councillors and classroom monitors. These responsibilities help pupils to develop confidence and leadership skills. Pupils enjoy the wider opportunities available to them. Educational visits, themed curriculum events and enrichment activities enhance their learning and contribute positively to their enjoyment of school. Pupils speak enthusiastically about these experiences and value the opportunities they provide to learn beyond the classroom. Across school, pupils, including those in the early years, demonstrate excellent attitudes to learning. They are keen to participate in lessons. They have learned to be resilient when faced with challenges. This helps pupils to quickly develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should strengthen their work to improve attendance and punctuality, so that the recent improvements in attendance are sustained.
• Leaders should continue their focus on improving achievement for all groups of pupils, striving to reach national expectations in reading by the end of key stage 2.
• Leaders should ensure that they embed recent developments in the curriculum, including in the early years, so that pupils secure a deep knowledge across all subjects.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)