Community school · Lincolnshire

The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

11–18Ages
1,139Pupils
SecondaryPhase
SelectiveGrammar school
Sixth formAges 16–18
120655URN

Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, DN21 2ST · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Dec 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.5 below Lincolnshire median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LincolnshireSelective

270 applications for 188 places · 48th of 52 in Lincolnshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

62.0of 90

Lincolnshire 41.8 England 46.0

8th of 54 in Lincolnshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 13 December 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.4applications per place, Year 7

0.5 below Lincolnshire median (1.9) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

270 applications · 188 places offered · 222 named it first

SelectiveApplications include children who did not pass the entrance test.

2026 1.4; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2025 1.5; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2024 1.7; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2023 1.5; Lincolnshire median median 1.7
2022 1.7; Lincolnshire median median 1.7
2021 1.7; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2020 1.5; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2019 1.6; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2018 1.6; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2017 1.6; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2016 1.4; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2015 1.7; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2014 1.4; Lincolnshire median median 1.9

More applications per place than the Lincolnshire median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Lincolnshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

Selective: register for the entrance test with the school first, usually by the summer before (dates vary). Dates

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	188	270	1.4	222	1.18
Sep 2025	186	273	1.5	217	1.17
Sep 2024	186	306	1.7	250	1.34
Sep 2023	186	276	1.5	220	1.18
Sep 2022	185	319	1.7	257	1.39
Sep 2021	186	315	1.7	269	1.45
Sep 2020	186	275	1.5	222	1.19
Sep 2019	185	301	1.6	251	1.36
Sep 2018	192	310	1.6	253	1.32
Sep 2017	179	286	1.6	225	1.26
Sep 2016	180	259	1.4	212	1.18
Sep 2015	180	312	1.7	253	1.41
Sep 2014	177	244	1.4	194	1.10

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

183 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)62.08th of 54 in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire 41.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths74%11th of 54 in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire 32% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths92%

Lincolnshire 58% England 66%

This school
Lincolnshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.26

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	183	62.0	74%	92%	–
2024/25	177	62.5	80%	94%	–
2023/24	191	62.4	85%	96%	+0.26
2022/23	182	64.6	82%	97%	+0.39

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

The Queen Elizabeth's High School, GainsboroughThis school
This school

Good2023

1.4applications per place 62.0Attainment 8 Selective
The Gainsborough Academy
1.5 km · Lincolnshire

Requires improvement2024

1.2applications per place 33.1Attainment 8
South Axholme Academy
13.0 km · North Lincolnshire

Good2023

1.4applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
The Elizabethan Academy
14.6 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2024

2.5applications per place 42.9Attainment 8
Kirton Academy
14.9 km · North Lincolnshire

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022

1.8applications per place 39.7Attainment 8
Retford Oaks Academy
15.6 km · Nottinghamshire

Remains Good2022

3.0applications per place 40.8Attainment 8
Serlby Park Academy
18.3 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2023

2.0applications per place 48.7Attainment 8
The Hayfield School
18.7 km · Doncaster

Remains Good2023

1.9applications per place 53.3Attainment 8
Frederick Gough School
18.8 km · North Lincolnshire

Good2023

1.8applications per place 42.2Attainment 8

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 120655 · 925/4065
Admissions policy: Selective
Capacity: 1,286 pupils · 1,139 on roll
Free school meals: 12.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, DN21 2ST
Local authority: Lincolnshire · West Lindsey

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources