Academy sponsor led · Lincolnshire

The Gainsborough Academy

11–16Ages
767Pupils
SecondaryPhase
145954URN

Sweyn Lane, Gainsborough, DN21 1PB · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2024 Previous framework

Requires improvement

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

0.8 below Lincolnshire median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in LincolnshireSelective

179 applications for 155 places · 52nd of 52 in Lincolnshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

33.1of 90

Lincolnshire 41.8 England 46.0

50th of 54 in Lincolnshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Requires improvement · 10 July 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education			Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes			Requires improvement
Personal development			Requires improvement
Leadership and management			Requires improvement

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

1.2applications per place, Year 7

0.8 below Lincolnshire median (1.9) 1.1 below England median (2.2)

179 applications · 155 places offered · 137 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2025 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2024 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2023 0.9; Lincolnshire median median 1.7
2022 1.0; Lincolnshire median median 1.7
2021 1.3; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2020 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2019 1.6; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2018 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
2017 1.3; Lincolnshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
2016 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
2015 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.9; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Lincolnshire median in 0 of 8 years.

This school
Lincolnshire median

Dashed bars: as The Gainsborough Academy (URN 135666), the previous school.

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

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	155	179	1.2	137	0.88
Sep 2025	167	184	1.1	142	0.85
Sep 2024	124	140	1.1	96	0.77
Sep 2023	158	145	0.9	113	0.72
Sep 2022	165	170	1.0	135	0.82
Sep 2021	131	169	1.3	122	0.93
Sep 2020	131	157	1.2	125	0.95
Sep 2019	79	123	1.6	72	0.91
Sep 2018 *	129	159	1.2	112	0.87
Sep 2017 *	109	140	1.3	95	0.87
Sep 2016 *	164	173	1.1	132	0.80
Sep 2015 *	144	163	1.1	129	0.90
Sep 2014 *	135	163	1.2	129	0.96

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

144 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)33.150th of 54 in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire 41.8 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths21%47th of 54 in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire 32% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths41%

Lincolnshire 58% England 66%

This school
Lincolnshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.81

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	144	33.1	21%	41%	–
2024/25	119	38.0	24%	48%	–
2023/24	106	29.1	9%	23%	−0.81
2022/23	125	37.8	18%	46%	−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 Gainsborough AcademyThis school
This school

Requires improvement2024

1.2applications per place 33.1Attainment 8
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough
1.5 km · Lincolnshire

Good2023

1.4applications per place 62.0Attainment 8 Selective
South Axholme Academy
13.7 km · North Lincolnshire

Good2023

1.4applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Kirton Academy
13.8 km · North Lincolnshire

Serious weaknesses Inadequate2022

1.8applications per place 39.7Attainment 8
The Elizabethan Academy
15.6 km · Nottinghamshire

Good2024

2.5applications per place 42.9Attainment 8
Retford Oaks Academy
16.6 km · Nottinghamshire

Remains Good2022

3.0applications per place 40.8Attainment 8
Frederick Gough School
18.5 km · North Lincolnshire

Good2023

1.8applications per place 42.2Attainment 8
Melior Community Academy
19.1 km · North Lincolnshire

Good2024

1.6applications per place 42.4Attainment 8
St Bede's Catholic Voluntary Academy
19.2 km · North Lincolnshire

Good2023

2.0applications per place 47.8Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 145954 · 925/4043
Trust: Wickersley Partnership Trust
Capacity: 1,200 pupils · 767 on roll
Free school meals: 65.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision: SEN unit
Opened: 1 June 2018
Replaced: The Gainsborough Academy (URN 135666)
Address: Sweyn Lane, Gainsborough, DN21 1PB
Local authority: Lincolnshire · West Lindsey

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