The Barnes Wallis Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of THE DAVID ROSS EDUCATION TRUST

Butts Lane, Tattershall, Lincoln, LN4 4PN

01526 342379 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 5 July 2017; confirmed 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths27%England 45% · 2024/25
11th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 12% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils483Room for 560 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 466 in 2019, 511 in 2021, 544 in 2022, 547 in 2023, 552 in 2024, 509 in 2025, 483 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.070 for 73 places, September 2026
5th highest of 13 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 51% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 5 July 2017.

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 attitudesOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 7 December 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

104 pupils in this year group.

27% — 15 points below the Lincolnshire average, and 19 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 27% 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. 39.1 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.7 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 28%This school 2023/24: 21%This school 2024/25: 27% This school England 45% 2022/23 28% 2023/24 21% 2024/25 27%

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.

110 pupils in this year group.

92% — about the same as the Lincolnshire average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
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 7% 40% 34%
Sixth form college 1% 4% 13%
Further education college 71% 41% 37%
Apprenticeship 5% 4% 3%
Work 5% 3% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
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 offered73
Families who put it first70
Of those, offered a place70 (100%)
Families who listed it at all139

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lincolnshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLincolnshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 80% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
42.2% 27.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 97% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
7.5% 3.3%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 91% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
21.4% 13.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
14th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 3% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.6% 11.6%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
10th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Lower than 27% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
9.7% 8.1%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
10th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Lower than 18% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
30.5% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
12th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
42.0 25.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
11th lowest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Lower than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
14.5% 7.9% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils 0.59% 0.31% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
2nd highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 82% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
18.5 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
9th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
10.1 11.3 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
10th highest of 14 state secondary schools in Lincoln.
Higher than 42% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.0% 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.

Questions parents ask

What is The Barnes Wallis Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Barnes Wallis Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 5 July 2017. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 7 December 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did The Barnes Wallis Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 27% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 19 points below the England average of 45%.

Is The Barnes Wallis Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 70 families put The Barnes Wallis Academy as their first choice for 73 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 70 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.