Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #49 in Lincolnshire public Top 42% UK

The Priory City of Lincoln Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Martin Whitaker

corporate_fareTHE PRIORY FEDERATION OF ACADEMIES

location_onLincoln, LN6 0EP

language Visit Website phone 1522882800

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

986

trending_up

Attainment 8

35.6

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#49 in Lincolnshire

#2,984 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Priory City of Lincoln Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Lincoln, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

The Priory City of Lincoln Academy is an academy sponsor led in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of THE PRIORY FEDERATION OF ACADEMIES. The school has approximately 944 pupils on roll, of whom 35% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 35.6, placing the school #49 in Lincolnshire and #2,984 of 3,216 nationally. 29.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 5.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 9 A-level subjects. 44.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 14.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.09 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 10 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 24.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

35.6

Grade 5+ E&M

29.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.7%

Entering EBacc23.60%

EBacc APS3.01

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.64

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27.50%

EBacc APS2.99

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc21%

EBacc APS3.35

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.48

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

39.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS3.25

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc31%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc10%

EBacc APS3.21

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.47

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS3.27

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)77%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment7%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.09

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*3.6%

Achieving A*–A14.3%

Achieving A*–B44.6%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered9

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.39

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.00%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate93.30%

2022

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate100.0%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

10 May 2023

Inspection Report

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08 December 2015

Inspection Report

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10 December 2013

Inspection Report

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25 September 2013

Inspection Report

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17 November 2010

Inspection Report

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14 October 2009

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-05-10

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2015-12-08

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-09-25

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

22.5%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

11.1%(105 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

4pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 944 pupils. During this period, there were 212 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 22.5%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	944	212	22.5%	7.3%	4
2024/25 (Autumn term)	957	259	27.1%	7.8%	6
2023/24 (Summer term)	977	249	25.5%	7.4%	8
2023/24 (Spring term)	980	202	20.6%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	998	159	15.9%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	976	102	10.5%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	986	74	7.5%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	992	57	5.7%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	939	46	4.9%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	943	39	4.1%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	942	42	4.5%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	917	31	3.4%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	921	14	1.5%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	926	93	10.0%	3.9%	2
2019/20 (Summer term)	872	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	872	63	7.2%	3.2%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	885	124	14.0%	4.2%	2
2018/19 (Summer term)	843	73	8.7%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	846	71	8.4%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	856	54	6.3%	3.8%	1
2017/18 (Summer term)	812	45	5.5%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	823	40	4.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	818	19	2.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	780	13	1.7%	3.0%	2
2016/17 (Spring term)	788	10	1.3%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	798	53	6.6%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 66 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 57 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 37 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 35 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 16 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 11 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

71.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree23%

agree33%

disagree25%

strongly disagree15%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree15%

agree32%

disagree33%

strongly disagree18%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree23%

agree25%

disagree17%

strongly disagree16%

don't know1%

not applicable17%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes23%

no77%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree33%

agree33%

disagree10%

strongly disagree19%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree35%

agree39%

disagree11%

strongly disagree7%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree28%

agree48%

disagree14%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree28%

agree40%

disagree21%

strongly disagree9%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree30%

agree50%

disagree13%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree55%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree21%

agree38%

disagree14%

strongly disagree15%

don't know12%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes67%

no33%

Top Secondary Schools in Lincolnshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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The King's School, Grantham

Good

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Caistor Grammar School

Good

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Bourne Grammar School

Good

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Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School

Outstanding

location_on Grantham, NG31 9AU

emoji_events #4 in LA

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle

Good

location_on Horncastle, LN9 5AD

emoji_events #5 in LA

Spalding High School

Outstanding

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emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Lincolnshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Lincolnshire

The King's School, Grantham

Caistor Grammar School

Bourne Grammar School

Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle

Spalding High School