University Academy Long Sutton
Spalding, PE12 9LF · Lincolnshire · secondary school
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52nd of 54 secondary schools in Lincolnshire we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 0.7/10 against 479 of them, against 0.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 2 | 35% | 0.07 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 18.0 · 2 | 30% | 0.07 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.68 · 9 | 25% | 0.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 34.0 · 4 | 10% | 0.04 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
University Academy Long Sutton overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 17.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 32.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.68 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 708 pupils against a stated capacity of 720. 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve progress scores for students starting from similar backgrounds? How does the new inspection framework’s separate grading affect day-to-day teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about University Academy Long Sutton
Overview
The report states that the school "requires significant improvement" because it is "performing significantly less well than it might in all the circumstances reasonably be expected to perform." While pupils are described as happy and well cared for, attainment and progress remain consistently below national averages, and teaching quality is inconsistent.
Strengths
- Pupils enjoy "warm relationships with staff" and the school is "typically calm and orderly."
- The personal development curriculum is ambitious, helping pupils appreciate "fundamental British values" and prepare for adulthood.
- There is a "real sense of community" with a broad range of enrichment activities, including overseas trips and clubs.
- Incidents of bullying are "rare," and leaders act "quickly and decisively" when they occur.
- Staff value the school's support for their wellbeing and leaders' commitment to managing workload.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teachers "consistently deliver the curriculum effectively," checking learning to identify gaps and support secure retention.
- Staff need an "accurate understanding of the specific barriers to learning" faced by disadvantaged, vulnerable, and SEND pupils, adapting teaching accordingly.
- Leaders must ensure all pupils attend school regularly and that they have "strategic oversight" of improvement actions to ensure they are coordinated and impactful.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" ensuring pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.8 |
| 2024/25 | 32.4 |
| 2025/26 | 34.0 |
| 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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