Lincolnshire County Council’s best secondary schools 2026

Trying to find the right school for your child in Lincolnshire County Council? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2024/2025 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

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Top secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council by GCSE % 9–7

The King's School, Grantham in Grantham is currently ranked #1 in Lincolnshire County Council based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
1The King's School, GranthamAcademy converterBoys-61.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
2Caistor Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-56.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
3Kesteven and Grantham Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls-52.2%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
4Bourne Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-52.1%OutstandingOutstandingGoodGood
5Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, HorncastleAcademy converterMixed-46.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
6Stamford Endowed SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed-46.1%----
7Spalding High SchoolCommunity schoolGirls-42.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
8The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughCommunity schoolMixed-39.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
9Lincoln Minster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-37.1%----
10Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective AcademyAcademy converterGirls-34.5%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
11King Edward VI Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-32.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
12Boston High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-30.9%----
13Spalding Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-30.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
14Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective AcademyAcademy converterMixed-29.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
15Carre's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-28.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
16William Farr CofE Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed-26.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
17The Priory Academy LSSTAcademy sponsor ledMixed-25.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
18Skegness Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-19.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
19The Boston Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-17.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
20Branston Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-15%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
21Lincoln UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-14.7%----
22Sir Robert Pattinson AcademyAcademy converterMixed-14.1%----
23Bourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed-13%----
24Walton AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
25Louth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-12.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
26St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-11.2%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
27De Aston SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.1%----
28The Priory Pembroke AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
29Lincoln Castle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.8%InadequateRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
30Caistor Yarborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
31Spalding AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.3%----
32Lincoln Christ's Hospital SchoolAcademy converterMixed-10.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
33West Grantham Church of England Secondary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-8.8%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
34The Deepings SchoolAcademy converterMixed-8.3%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
35North Kesteven AcademyAcademy converterMixed-8.1%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
36Somercotes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%----
37University Academy HolbeachAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%Requires improvementGoodGoodRequires improvement
38The Priory Witham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.9%----
39The Banovallum SchoolAcademy converterMixed-7.7%----
40Sir William Robertson Academy, WelbournAcademy converterMixed-7%----
41The Priory Ruskin AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.9%----
42Stamford Welland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-6.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
43The Giles AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.3%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
44St George's AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
45The Barnes Wallis AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.1%----
46Cowley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.8%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
47The Priory City of Lincoln AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.8%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
48Thomas Middlecott AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.6%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
49King Edward VI AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
50Haven High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-3.9%InadequateInadequateRequires improvementInadequate
51Kirkstone House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-3.9%----
52Charles Read AcademyAcademy converterMixed-3.6%----
53The Gainsborough AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-3.5%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
54University Academy Long SuttonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-3.5%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
55William Lovell Church of England AcademyAcademy converterMixed-3.4%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
56John Spendluffe Foundation Technology CollegeAcademy converterMixed-2.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
57Skegness AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodGood
58Athena SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-0%----
59Bridge House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
60Castles EducationOther independent schoolMixed-0%----
61Grantham Additional Needs FellowshipAcademy special converterMixed-0%----
62Greenfields AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood
63Heckington House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-0%----
64Oakwood House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
65Woodlands AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood

Note: Rankings use 2024/2025 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
Acacia SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Aegir - A Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterMixed------
Aspiration House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Athena SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-0%----
Boston Endeavour AcademyAcademy special converterMixed------
Boston High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-30.9%----
Bourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed-13%----
Bourne Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-52.1%OutstandingOutstandingGoodGood
Branston Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-15%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
Bridge House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Caistor Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-56.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
Caistor Yarborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
Car Dyke SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Carre's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-28.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
Castles EducationOther independent schoolMixed-0%----
Charles Read AcademyAcademy converterMixed-3.6%----
Compass Community School LincolnshireOther independent special schoolMixed------
Cowley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.8%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
De Aston SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.1%----
Esland Grantham SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Grantham Additional Needs FellowshipAcademy special converterMixed-0%----
Greenfields AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood
Haven High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-3.9%InadequateInadequateRequires improvementInadequate
Heckington House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-0%----
Holton Sleaford Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
John Spendluffe Foundation Technology CollegeAcademy converterMixed-2.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls-52.2%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective AcademyAcademy converterGirls-34.5%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
King Edward VI AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
King Edward VI Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-32.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
Kirkstone House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-3.9%----
Kisimul SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Lincoln Castle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.8%InadequateRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Lincoln Christ's Hospital SchoolAcademy converterMixed-10.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
Lincoln Minster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-37.1%----
Lincoln UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-14.7%----
Louth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-12.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
North Kesteven AcademyAcademy converterMixed-8.1%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Oakwood House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed-0%----
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective AcademyAcademy converterMixed-29.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, HorncastleAcademy converterMixed-46.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
Sir Robert Pattinson AcademyAcademy converterMixed-14.1%----
Sir William Robertson Academy, WelbournAcademy converterMixed-7%----
Skegness AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodGood
Skegness Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-19.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
Somercotes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%----
Spalding AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.3%----
Spalding Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-30.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
Spalding High SchoolCommunity schoolGirls-42.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
St Bernard's SchoolAcademy special converterMixed------
St George's AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
St Hugh's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
St Lawrence SchoolAcademy special converterMixed------
St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-11.2%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Stamford Endowed SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed-46.1%----
Stamford Welland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-6.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Banovallum SchoolAcademy converterMixed-7.7%----
The Barnes Wallis AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.1%----
The Boston Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-17.8%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Deepings SchoolAcademy converterMixed-8.3%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
The Eresby School, SpilsbyAcademy special converterMixed------
The Gainsborough AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-3.5%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
The Giles AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.3%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
The King's School, GranthamAcademy converterBoys-61.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Lincoln St Christopher's SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed------
The Priory Academy LSSTAcademy sponsor ledMixed-25.3%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
The Priory City of Lincoln AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.8%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
The Priory Pembroke AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.1%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Priory Ruskin AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.9%----
The Priory Witham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-7.9%----
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughCommunity schoolMixed-39.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
The St Francis Special School, LincolnCommunity special schoolMixed------
The Willows SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Thomas Middlecott AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-5.6%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Three ChestnutsOther independent special schoolMixed------
Tudor Lodge Therapeutic SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Tulip AcademyAcademy special converterMixed--OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
University Academy HolbeachAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.1%Requires improvementGoodGoodRequires improvement
University Academy Long SuttonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-3.5%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Walton AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
West Grantham Church of England Secondary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-8.8%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
William Farr CofE Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed-26.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
William Lovell Church of England AcademyAcademy converterMixed-3.4%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Willoughby AcademyAcademy special converterMixed------
Willow SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Witham Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Witham Prospect SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Woodlands AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2024/2025 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Please note that Progress 8 scores were not published by the DfE for the 2024/25 academic year, as this cohort did not have Key Stage 2 prior attainment data due to pandemic-related assessment cancellations.

Some schools may also be missing data for GCSE 9–7 results or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Lincolnshire County Council?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2024/2025 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Lincolnshire County Council, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

Explore the best secondary schools in other areas

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FAQs - best secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Lincolnshire County Council is The King's School, Grantham by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Lincolnshire County Council local authority. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Lincolnshire County Council consistently score above +0.8.

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