Charles Read Academy
Grantham, NG33 4NT · Lincolnshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
33rd of 54 secondary schools in Lincolnshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 6.0/10 against 495 of them, against 3.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 13 | 35% | 0.44 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 24.5 · 7 | 30% | 0.22 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.58 · 87 | 25% | 2.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.4 · 13 | 10% | 0.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Charles Read Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 30.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.58 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.4 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in June 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Musical Theatre, Bush craft, Gardening, DofE, and Table Tennis Performance Centre clubs. Sports include Football, Rugby, Rowing, Netball, Hockey, Athletics, Dance, and Rounders. Trips have included the University of Nottingham, Houses of Parliament, and Outward Bound.
Getting in
The published school roll is 277 pupils against a stated capacity of 275. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Attainment 8 scores? How are the separate Ofsted grades from
What Ofsted said about Charles Read Academy
Overview
The inspection found that Charles Read Academy meets the expected standard in most areas, with safeguarding standards fully met. While the curriculum is well-structured and supports pupils with lower starting points, the report highlights that attendance is below national averages and suspension rates remain high. Leaders are actively working to improve consistency in teaching and behaviour.
Strengths
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are "actively identified, acted upon and managed."
- The curriculum is "well-structured" and "carefully adjusted" to support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Staff know pupils well and provide "appropriate adaptations" to ensure vulnerable pupils can learn successfully.
- Pupils feel safe and benefit from a strong sense of community, with bullying taken seriously.
- Leaders have an "accurate understanding" of strengths and areas for improvement, prioritising actions effectively.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure assessment is consistent so that "gaps in learning are identified and addressed quickly."
- Strategies to support attendance need strengthening so that it improves for all pupils, including disadvantaged groups.
- Leaders must strengthen work to improve the behaviour of pupils who repeatedly do not meet expectations, reducing high suspension rates.
- The personal development curriculum should enable all pupils to "confidently recall their learning" about British values and world cultures.
Safeguarding
The report states that safeguarding standards are met, noting that leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.5 |
| 2024/25 | 37.6 |
| 2025/26 | 38.4 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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