SchoolScoresThe Banovallum School
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of HORNCASTLE EDUCATION TRUST
Boston Road, Horncastle, LN9 6DA
01507 522232 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 December 2017.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 3 March 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
108 pupils in this year group.
29% — 13 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 17 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 29% | 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. | 41.9 | 45.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.4 | 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.
105 pupils in this year group.
92% — about the same as the Lincolnshire average, and about the same as 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. | 92% | 92% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 14% | 40% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 4% | 13% |
| Further education college | 68% | 41% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 6% | 4% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 93% | 92% |
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 offered | 118 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 121 |
| Of those, offered a place | 107 (88%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 251 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lincolnshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 65% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 33.4% | 27.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.6% | 3.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 29th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 48% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5% | 13.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language Joint 51st highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.6% | 11.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 46th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 14% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0% | 8.1%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 36th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 26% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.3% | 23.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 29th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 46% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 16.3 | 25.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 25th lowest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Lower than 53% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.4% | 7.9% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.16% | 0.31% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 41st highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 19% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 15.2 | 16.7 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 47th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 6% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.2 | 11.3 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 20th highest of 54 state secondary schools in Lincolnshire. Higher than 49% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 13.0% | 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
- Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 89% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Banovallum School's Ofsted rating?
The Banovallum School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 December 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 3 March 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did The Banovallum School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 29% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 17 points below the England average of 45%.
Is The Banovallum School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 121 families put The Banovallum School as their first choice for 118 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 107 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 141581.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.