Spalding Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE ACADEMIES TRUST

Neville Avenue, Donington, Spalding, PE11 2EJ

01775 722484 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 4 June 2019; confirmed 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths31%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 19% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,486Room for 1,820 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 1,019 in 2019, 1,211 in 2021, 1,324 in 2022, 1,382 in 2023, 1,420 in 2024, 1,448 in 2025, 1,486 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0297 for 311 places, September 2026
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 50% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 June 2019.

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
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 2 April 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

83 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Spalding comparisons use the 5 of its 6 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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 schoolSpaldingEngland
My child is happy at this school
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 82% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 52% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
87% 85% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 63% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
84% 77% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 38 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 50% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 45% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 64 parents who had raised a concern
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 39% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
66% 64% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 27 parents of children with SEND
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 30% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
52% 40% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Spalding.
Higher than 53% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
81%said yes 79% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 6%). 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. Spalding figures pool parents at the Spalding 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

266 pupils in this year group.

31% — 11 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 14 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 31% 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. 45.3 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.6 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 29%This school 2023/24: 26%This school 2024/25: 31% This school England 45% 2022/23 29% 2023/24 26% 2024/25 31%

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.

257 pupils in this year group.

91% — about the same as the Lincolnshire average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 21%61%
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. 91% 92% 92%
School sixth form 21% 40% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 4% 13%
Further education college 61% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 4% 3%
Work 4% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%91%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered311
Families who put it first297
Of those, offered a place273 (92%)
Families who listed it at all578

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lincolnshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
26.6% 27.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 49% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.9% 3.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.2% 13.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
32.1% 11.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Lower than 71% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
7.1% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Lower than 68% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
19.7% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Lower than 48% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
15.5 25.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
5th lowest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Lower than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.7% 7.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil 0.07% 0.31% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 67% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
17.6 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 54% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.0 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools in Spalding.
Higher than 31% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.3% 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 Spalding Academy's Ofsted rating?

Spalding Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 June 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 2 April 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.

How did Spalding Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 31% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 14 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Spalding Academy?

81% of the 83 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Spalding Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Spalding Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 297 families put Spalding Academy as their first choice for 311 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 273 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.