Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle

Grammar school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of HORNCASTLE EDUCATION TRUST

West Street, Horncastle, LN9 5AD

01507 522465 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 4 June 2024
Grade 5 or above in English and maths89%England 45% · 2024/25
Joint 3rd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 96% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils788Room for 920 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 805 in 2019, 825 in 2021, 833 in 2022, 842 in 2023, 817 in 2024, 788 in 2025, 788 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.4167 for 118 places, September 2026
5th highest of 53 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 91% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 June 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

195 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.

Lincolnshire comparisons use the 28 of its 54 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 26 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.

StatementThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 79% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91% 78% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 2nd highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 93% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 83% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
4th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 78% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 73% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 64 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 11th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 50% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 45% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 137 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 3rd highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 84% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 64% 76%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 3rd highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 82% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
91%said yes 73% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Lincolnshire figures pool parents at the Lincolnshire 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.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

123 pupils in this year group.

89% — 48 points above the Lincolnshire average, and 44 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 89% 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. 66.2 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 6.3 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 40% 60% 80% 100% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 90%This school 2023/24: 82%This school 2024/25: 89% This school England 45% 2022/23 90% 2023/24 82% 2024/25 89%

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.

122 pupils in this year group.

98% — 6 points above the Lincolnshire average, and 6 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 81%15%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 98% 92% 92%
School sixth form 81% 40% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 4% 13%
Further education college 15% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 4% 3%
Work 1% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%98%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

96 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 34% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 61% 52% 53%
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. 38.3 34.4 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 39.1This school 2023/24: 37.8This school 2024/25: 38.3 This school England 35 2022/23 39.1 2023/24 37.8 2024/25 38.3

A level subjects, 2024/25

22 subjects, 299 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 37 32% 54% 40%
Biology 33 15% 36% 27%
History 31 6% 39% 23%
Chemistry 30 20% 30% 30%
Physics 23 13% 39% 31%
Geography 20 5% 20% 23%
Geology 18 6% 50% 25%
Business Studies:Single 16 0% 6% 16%
English Literature 16 13% 38% 23%
Psychology 14 7% 36% 19%
Economics 13 0% 15% 26%
Mathematics (Further) 10 20% 50% 59%
English Language 9 0% 0% 13%
Design and Technology (Product Design) 6 0% 0% 15%
Film Studies 6 17% 50% 17%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Art and Design (Fine Art), French, Religious Studies, Drama and Theatre Studies, Music, Art and Design (Photography), Spanish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

114 students in this year group.

93% — 11 points above the Lincolnshire average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 93% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 9% 7%
Work 20% 29% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%93%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

87 students in this year group.

83% — 23 points above the Lincolnshire average, and 23 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 83% 60% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 39% 19% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
83%83%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered118
Families who put it first167
Of those, offered a place113 (68%)
Families who listed it at all293

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.4

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.

This is a grammar school: places depend on passing an entrance test (the 11 plus), usually taken in September of Year 6.

Admissions dates and schools in Lincolnshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
50th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 6% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
9.1% 27.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
43rd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 7% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.9% 3.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
47th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 8% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.6% 13.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
30th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
6.5% 11.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
12th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
5.5% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
11th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Lower than 90% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
13.5% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Lower than 97% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
0.8 25.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
2nd lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Lower than 99% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
0.1% 7.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.31% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 31st highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 43% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.5 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 18th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 64% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.4 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
53rd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire.
Higher than 2% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
3.1% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle's Ofsted rating?

Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 June 2024.

How did Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 89% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 44 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle?

91% of the 195 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 167 families put Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle as their first choice for 118 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 113 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.