Alexander Dickson Primary School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Ards and North Down
Alexander Dickson Primary School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 12 January 2026, 5 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Comber Road, Ballygowan, Ballygowan, BT23 5TN
How it compares in Ards and North Down
That puts Alexander Dickson Primary School among the 949 places in Ards and North Down holding top marks, 82% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 949 | 82% | ← Alexander Dickson Primary School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 154 | 13% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 43 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 8 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 1 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 118 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Alexander Dickson Primary School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Alexander Dickson Primary School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballygowan Community Playgroup Caring Premises | at this address | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
| Brae Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 165 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 September 2024 |
| Davidson's Pub/bar/nightclub | 187 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 April 2024 |
| Scoops and Shakes Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 193 yards away | 3 - Generally satisfactory | 19 November 2025 |
| Piggy's Vapes and Treats Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 June 2025 |
| Wineflair Retailers - other | 196 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 November 2024 |
| Farley House Takeaway/sandwich shop | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 December 2025 |
| S Gibson's Family Butchers Retailers - other | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 February 2026 |
Questions about Alexander Dickson Primary School
What is Alexander Dickson Primary School's food hygiene rating?
Alexander Dickson Primary School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Ards and North Down Council on 12 January 2026.
Is Alexander Dickson Primary School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Alexander Dickson Primary School last inspected?
Alexander Dickson Primary School was last inspected on 12 January 2026, 5 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Ards and North Down Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Alexander Dickson Primary School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Alexander Dickson Primary School compare to other places in Ards and North Down?
82% of the 1,155 rated food businesses in Ards and North Down hold the top rating of 5, and Alexander Dickson Primary School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Ards and North Down Council inspects Alexander Dickson Primary School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Alexander Dickson Primary School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Alexander Dickson Primary School is one of 884 rated food businesses in Down. See every hygiene rating in Down →
Ards and North Down inspects and rates 1,273 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Ards and North Down →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →