Lincolnshire County Council’s best secondary schools 2025

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 2023/2024 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.

Top secondary schools in Lincolnshire County Council by Progress 8

The King's School, Grantham in Grantham is currently ranked #1 in Lincolnshire County Council based on its published Progress 8 score of +1.1. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1The King's School, GranthamAcademy converterBoys+1.1Good55.52%
2Kesteven and Grantham Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+1.04Outstanding56.11%
3Bourne Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.68Good52.77%
4Caistor Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.68Good59.21%
5Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective AcademyAcademy converterGirls+0.67-43.32%
6Spalding High SchoolCommunity schoolGirls+0.63Outstanding44.47%
7Bourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.58Good18.09%
8Charles Read AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.58Good8.17%
9William Farr CofE Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.43Good24.27%
10Louth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.42Good10.65%
11Spalding AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.42Good8.91%
12Boston High SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.37Good33.98%
13Caistor Yarborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.37Good12.21%
14King Edward VI Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.33Good38.98%
15Spalding Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.3Good33.19%
16Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.28Good31.54%
17Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, HorncastleAcademy converterMixed+0.28Good37.82%
18The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughCommunity schoolMixed+0.26Good35.71%
19The Priory Ruskin AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.22Outstanding9.11%
20The Giles AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.2Good8.75%
21Somercotes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good8.14%
22The Priory Academy LSSTAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good30.88%
23Lincoln UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed+0.09Good14.69%
24Lincoln Castle AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.09-10.47%
25The Banovallum SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good7.34%
26The Priory Pembroke AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.03Good10.21%
27Carre's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good30.43%
28Sir Robert Pattinson AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good14.97%
29Stamford Welland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good4.41%
30Skegness Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.02Good21.79%
31Sir William Robertson Academy, WelbournAcademy converterMixed-0.04Good12.07%
32King Edward VI AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.08Good2.85%
33Cowley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.12-8.41%
34Walton AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.16Good8.74%
35Branston Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.22-11.44%
36John Spendluffe Foundation Technology CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.26Good3.98%
37West Grantham Church of England Secondary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.28Good3.17%
38St George's AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good7%
39The Deepings SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29-7.53%
40Lincoln Christ's Hospital SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.3-8.56%
41De Aston SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.39Good12.43%
42University Academy HolbeachAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.42-3.18%
43The Boston Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-0.43Good18.35%
44The Priory Witham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good7.04%
45The Barnes Wallis AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.58Good5.08%
46St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.58Requires improvement9.6%
47Skegness AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.64Requires improvement0.9%
48The Priory City of Lincoln AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.64Requires improvement4.77%
49Haven High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.65Inadequate4.56%
50University Academy Long SuttonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.68Requires improvement2.37%
51Thomas Middlecott AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.78-3.9%
52The Gainsborough AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.81Requires improvement1.87%
53North Kesteven AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.94-6.01%
54William Lovell Church of England AcademyAcademy converterMixed-1.34Requires improvement1.13%
55Greenfields AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-1.38Good0%
56Athena SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.63Good0%
57Grantham Additional Needs FellowshipAcademy special converterMixed-1.83Outstanding0%
58Woodlands AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-2.11Good0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

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

Caistor Grammar School in Caistor 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Caistor Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.68Good59.21%
2Kesteven and Grantham Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+1.04Outstanding56.11%
3The King's School, GranthamAcademy converterBoys+1.1Good55.52%
4Bourne Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.68Good52.77%
5Spalding High SchoolCommunity schoolGirls+0.63Outstanding44.47%
6Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective AcademyAcademy converterGirls+0.67-43.32%
7King Edward VI Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.33Good38.98%
8Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, HorncastleAcademy converterMixed+0.28Good37.82%
9Stamford Endowed SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed--35.86%
10The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughCommunity schoolMixed+0.26Good35.71%
11Boston High SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.37Good33.98%
12Spalding Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.3Good33.19%
13Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.28Good31.54%
14The Priory Academy LSSTAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good30.88%
15Carre's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good30.43%
16William Farr CofE Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.43Good24.27%
17Skegness Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.02Good21.79%
18The Boston Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-0.43Good18.35%
19Bourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.58Good18.09%
20Lincoln Minster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--16.89%
21Sir Robert Pattinson AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good14.97%
22Lincoln UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed+0.09Good14.69%
23De Aston SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.39Good12.43%
24Caistor Yarborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.37Good12.21%
25Sir William Robertson Academy, WelbournAcademy converterMixed-0.04Good12.07%
26Branston Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.22-11.44%
27Louth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.42Good10.65%
28Lincoln Castle AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.09-10.47%
29The Priory Pembroke AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.03Good10.21%
30St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.58Requires improvement9.6%
31The Priory Ruskin AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.22Outstanding9.11%
32Spalding AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.42Good8.91%
33The Giles AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.2Good8.75%
34Walton AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.16Good8.74%
35Lincoln Christ's Hospital SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.3-8.56%
36Cowley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.12-8.41%
37Charles Read AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.58Good8.17%
38Somercotes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good8.14%
39The Deepings SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29-7.53%
40The Banovallum SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good7.34%
41The Priory Witham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good7.04%
42St George's AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good7%
43North Kesteven AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.94-6.01%
44The Barnes Wallis AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.58Good5.08%
45The Priory City of Lincoln AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.64Requires improvement4.77%
46Haven High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.65Inadequate4.56%
47Stamford Welland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good4.41%
48John Spendluffe Foundation Technology CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.26Good3.98%
49Thomas Middlecott AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.78-3.9%
50University Academy HolbeachAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.42-3.18%
51West Grantham Church of England Secondary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.28Good3.17%
52King Edward VI AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.08Good2.85%
53University Academy Long SuttonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.68Requires improvement2.37%
54The Gainsborough AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.81Requires improvement1.87%
55Kirkstone House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--1.49%
56William Lovell Church of England AcademyAcademy converterMixed-1.34Requires improvement1.13%
57Skegness AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.64Requires improvement0.9%
58Grantham Additional Needs FellowshipAcademy special converterMixed-1.83Outstanding0%
59Athena SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.63Good0%
60Greenfields AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-1.38Good0%
61Woodlands AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-2.11Good0%
62Bridge House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
63Castles EducationOther independent schoolMixed--0%
64Compass Community School LincolnshireOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
65Esland Grantham SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Aegir - A Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Ambergate Sports CollegeAcademy special converterMixed---
Aspiration House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Athena SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.63Good0%
Boston Endeavour AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Boston High SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.37Good33.98%
Bourne AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.58Good18.09%
Bourne Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.68Good52.77%
Branston Community AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.22-11.44%
Bridge House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Caistor Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.68Good59.21%
Caistor Yarborough AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.37Good12.21%
Car Dyke SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Carre's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good30.43%
Castles EducationOther independent schoolMixed--0%
Charles Read AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.58Good8.17%
Compass Community School LincolnshireOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Cowley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.12-8.41%
De Aston SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.39Good12.43%
Esland Grantham SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Grantham Additional Needs FellowshipAcademy special converterMixed-1.83Outstanding0%
Greenfields AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-1.38Good0%
Haven High AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.65Inadequate4.56%
Heckington House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Holton Sleaford Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
John Spendluffe Foundation Technology CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.26Good3.98%
Kesteven and Grantham Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+1.04Outstanding56.11%
Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective AcademyAcademy converterGirls+0.67-43.32%
King Edward VI AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.08Good2.85%
King Edward VI Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.33Good38.98%
Kirkstone House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--1.49%
Kisimul SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Lincoln Castle AcademyAcademy converterMixed-Inadequate-
Lincoln Castle AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.09-10.47%
Lincoln Christ's Hospital SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.3-8.56%
Lincoln Minster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--16.89%
Lincoln UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed+0.09Good14.69%
Louth AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.42Good10.65%
North Kesteven AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.94-6.01%
Oakwood House Independent SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.28Good31.54%
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, HorncastleAcademy converterMixed+0.28Good37.82%
Sir Robert Pattinson AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good14.97%
Sir William Robertson Academy, WelbournAcademy converterMixed-0.04Good12.07%
Skegness AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.64Requires improvement0.9%
Skegness Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.02Good21.79%
Somercotes AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good8.14%
Spalding AcademyAcademy converterMixed+0.42Good8.91%
Spalding Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.3Good33.19%
Spalding High SchoolCommunity schoolGirls+0.63Outstanding44.47%
St Bernard's SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
St George's AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good7%
St Hugh's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
St Lawrence SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.58Requires improvement9.6%
Stamford Endowed SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed--35.86%
Stamford Welland AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good4.41%
The Banovallum SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.04Good7.34%
The Barnes Wallis AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.58Good5.08%
The Boston Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-0.43Good18.35%
The Deepings SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29-7.53%
The Eresby School, SpilsbyAcademy special converterMixed-Outstanding-
The Gainsborough AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.81Requires improvement1.87%
The Giles AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.2Good8.75%
The King's School, GranthamAcademy converterBoys+1.1Good55.52%
The Lincoln St Christopher's SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Good-
The Priory Academy LSSTAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.15Good30.88%
The Priory City of Lincoln AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.64Requires improvement4.77%
The Priory Pembroke AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.03Good10.21%
The Priory Ruskin AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.22Outstanding9.11%
The Priory Witham AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good7.04%
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughCommunity schoolMixed+0.26Good35.71%
The St Francis Special School, LincolnCommunity special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
Thomas Middlecott AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.78-3.9%
Three ChestnutsOther independent special schoolMixed---
Tudor Lodge Therapeutic SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Tulip AcademyAcademy special converterMixed---
University Academy HolbeachAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.42-3.18%
University Academy Long SuttonAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.68Requires improvement2.37%
Walton AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.16Good8.74%
West Grantham Church of England Secondary AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.28Good3.17%
William Farr CofE Comprehensive SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.43Good24.27%
William Lovell Church of England AcademyAcademy converterMixed-1.34Requires improvement1.13%
Willoughby AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Willow SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Witham Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Witham Prospect SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Woodlands AcademyAcademy special converterMixed-2.11Good0%

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, 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 2023/2024 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.

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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.

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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 Progress 8 and Caistor Grammar School 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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