Boston College
N/A
Capacity
N/A
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Boston College
Boston College is a state secondary and sixth form in Lincolnshire, specifically in the Boston local authority, and it ranks 1st out of 5 schools of its type in that immediate area. That puts it in the top 25% of schools locally. When you look at the wider Lincolnshire picture, it sits 10th out of 57 similar schools, with top-performing peers including The King's School, Grantham, Grantham College, and Bourne Grammar School. The school is led by headteacher Claire Foster and caters to students aged 16 to 99, making it a dedicated post-16 institution. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 confirmed the school remains Good overall, with leadership and management rated Outstanding. The sixth form provision was also rated Good. This is a school that clearly performs well within its local landscape, particularly given the strong competition from grammar and college options nearby.
Academically, Boston College delivers strong results. Its Progress 8 score of 0.37 is well above the local authority average of -0.06, and the school's progress banding is rated 'Above average'. The Attainment 8 score sits at 59.9, and 72.4% of students achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 5.5, with 34.5% of pupils entering the EBacc and achieving a grade 5 or above. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value added score is -0.4, which is classed as 'Below average', and the average points per entry is 24.12, equivalent to a D+. The best three A-levels average out at a C-. So while GCSE outcomes are notably strong, sixth form performance is less impressive, and parents considering post-16 options should weigh this carefully.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 224 applications for 107 places, with 142 first-preference applications and 100 first-preference offers. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.09. Facilities are extensive and include science labs, a theatre, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Sports offered include hockey, rugby, basketball, cricket, dance, and gymnastics, and there are clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. The school also has a broad range of SEND provisions, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language challenges, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a well-equipped, popular choice for post-16 students in Boston, particularly those who have done well at GCSE and want a strong local option.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 16 to 99 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Rochford Campus, Boston, Boston, PE21 6JF |
| Headteacher | Claire Foster |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.9% |
| School Capacity | 811 |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (17 Jul 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Feb 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.37)
713th of 3,141
Nationally
50th of 273
In East Midlands
1st of 5
In Boston
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
32.3
'22/23
29.4
'23/24
24.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2366%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 120 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
13%
Russell Group
13%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)66%
- Employment19%
- Further education5%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Not sustained5%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed107
224
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
142 families put this school as their 1st choice (63% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British62.4%
- White (other)20.2%
- Asian8.0%
- Mixed5.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston College
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Rochford Campus, Boston
Boston, PE21 6JF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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