Academy converter · Lincolnshire

Horncastle Primary School

3–11Ages
417Pupils
PrimaryPhase
148713URN

Bowl Alley Lane, Horncastle, LN9 5EH · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

0.8 below Lincolnshire median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Lincolnshire

76 applications for 59 places · 163rd of 169 in Lincolnshire

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

57%met the expected standard

Lincolnshire 60% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 1 May 2024Ofsted'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
Early years 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

1.3applications per place, Reception

0.8 below Lincolnshire median (2.0) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

76 applications · 59 places offered · 55 named it first

2026 1.3; Lincolnshire median median 2.0
2025 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.9
2024 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2023 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2022 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.8
2021 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
2020 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
2019 1.1; Lincolnshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
2018 1.2; Lincolnshire median median 1.8; as the previous school
2017 1.3; Lincolnshire median median 1.9; as the previous school
2016 1.2; 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 1.8; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Lincolnshire median in 0 of 5 years.

This school
Lincolnshire median

Dashed bars: as Horncastle Community Primary School (URN 120507), the previous school.

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, 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	59	76	1.3	55	0.93
Sep 2025	56	69	1.2	56	1.00
Sep 2024	46	57	1.2	44	0.96
Sep 2023	44	50	1.1	43	0.98
Sep 2022	57	63	1.1	57	1.00
Sep 2021 *	57	65	1.1	57	1.00
Sep 2020 *	57	62	1.1	58	1.02
Sep 2019 *	56	63	1.1	56	1.00
Sep 2018 *	68	80	1.2	68	1.00
Sep 2017 *	55	71	1.3	53	0.96
Sep 2016 *	75	87	1.2	74	0.99
Sep 2015 *	69	75	1.1	68	0.99
Sep 2014 *	78	94	1.2	75	0.96

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 67% · Writing 80% · Maths 72% → all three 57% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard57%142nd of 244 in Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire 60% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard67%

Lincolnshire 73% England 78%

Higher standard23%

Lincolnshire 27% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard80%

Lincolnshire 73% England 75%

Greater depth16%

Lincolnshire 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard72%

Lincolnshire 73% England 77%

Higher standard23%

Lincolnshire 19% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Lincolnshire median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	57%	11%	104	104
2023/24	59%	6%	104	102
2022/23	53%	5%	104	102

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

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

Horncastle Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2024

1.3applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
The Kirkby-on-Bain Church of England Primary School
7.7 km · Lincolnshire

Good2023

2.6applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
The Edward Richardson Primary School, Tetford
8.5 km · Lincolnshire

Remains Good2024

3.6applications per place 90%met the SATs standard
The Mareham-le-Fen Church of England Primary School
8.8 km · Lincolnshire

Remains Good2023

3.7applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Scamblesby Church of England Primary School
9.0 km · Lincolnshire

Good2024

2.2applications per place 50%met the SATs standard
Bucknall Primary School
9.1 km · Lincolnshire

Remains Good2023

3.5applications per place
St Andrew's CofE Primary School
9.9 km · Lincolnshire

Good2023

1.6applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Tattershall Primary School
12.5 km · Lincolnshire

Good2024

3.1applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Coningsby St Michael's Church of England Primary School
12.7 km · Lincolnshire

Good2022

1.7applications per place 53%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 148713 · 925/2244
Trust: Wellspring Academy Trust
Capacity: 630 pupils · 417 on roll
Free school meals: 40.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 September 2021
Replaced: Horncastle Community Primary School (URN 120507)
Address: Bowl Alley Lane, Horncastle, LN9 5EH
Local authority: Lincolnshire · East Lindsey

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources