SchoolScoresLincoln Castle Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST
Riseholme Road, Lincoln, LN1 3SP
01522 303584 · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Inadequate at the inspection that started on 5 July 2022. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
Category of concern: Serious weaknesses.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Inadequate |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Sixth form | Inadequate |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
51 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Lincoln comparisons use the 8 of its 14 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 6 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Lincoln | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 8% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 57% | 79% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 82% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 8% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 74% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 26 parents whose child had been bullied 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 1% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 15% | 48% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 35 parents who had raised a concern 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 4% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 34% | 65% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 25 parents of children with SEND 5th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 18% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 58% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincoln. Higher than 7% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45%said yes | 75% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 7%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Lincoln figures pool parents at the Lincoln schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
103 pupils in this year group.
42% — about the same as the Lincolnshire average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 42% | 42% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 40.8 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
143 pupils in this year group.
These results were published under the school's previous registration (URN 136537), before it changed to its current form.
87% — 8 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 87% | 95% | 93% |
| School sixth form | 17% | 43% | 36% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 3% | 13% |
| Further education college | 61% | 39% | 35% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 6% | 4% | 4% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2023/24 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2023/24
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | Not published | C+ | C+ |
| A level exams graded A* or A | – | 25% | 25% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | – | 51% | 51% |
| Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. | Not published | 34.1 | 34.4 |
"Not published": No figure published.
Average A level grade, over time
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|
| C- | Not published |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2023/24. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lincolnshire. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 173 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 98 |
| Of those, offered a place | 98 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 210 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.4 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.6
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 82% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 43.9% | 27.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 88% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 5.4% | 3.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 12th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 26% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 10.6% | 13.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 67% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 20.3% | 11.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Lower than 9% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.0% | 8.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 12th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Lower than 11% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 33.5% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 14th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 102.0 | 25.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Lower than 1% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 23.8% | 7.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded5 pupils | 0.71% | 0.31% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 94% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 20.0 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 78% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.1 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln. Higher than 68% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 16.7% | 11.5%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Lincoln Christ's Hospital School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lincoln Minster School 0.9 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 27% A*/A at A level
- Lincoln UTC 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary Academy 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 26% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Priory Academy LSST 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 59% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Priory City of Lincoln Academy 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Lincoln Castle Academy's Ofsted rating?
Lincoln Castle Academy was rated Inadequate by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 July 2022.
How did Lincoln Castle Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Lincoln Castle Academy?
45% of the 51 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Lincoln Castle Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Lincoln Castle Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 98 families put Lincoln Castle Academy as their first choice for 173 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 98 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 150482.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2023/24, A levels 2023/24.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.