Bourne Grammar School
102%
Capacity
1,740
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Bourne Grammar School
Bourne Grammar School is a large, mixed secondary school in South Kesteven, Lincolnshire, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. With 1,740 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,700, the school is operating slightly above its official limit, and the admission data for the 2025/26 intake confirms strong demand. The school received 516 total applications for 239 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.16, and 339 of those applications were first-preference choices. Just 6.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably lower than the national average and suggests a relatively affluent intake. The school describes itself as having a Christian religious character, and it is a state-funded grammar school, which will naturally shape the demographic profile of its student body.
Academically, Bourne Grammar School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.68 is significantly higher than the Lincolnshire local authority average of -0.06, placing it third out of eight schools in South Kesteven and in the top 10% nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 68.1, and an impressive 98.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also has a strong focus on the English Baccalaureate, with 91.3% of pupils entered for the EBacc and 84.6% achieving a grade 4 or above across those subjects. At sixth form, the average A-level grade was a B, with 20.9% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with Outstanding marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and sixth-form provision.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, a sports hall, astro turf, music rooms, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is extensive, with options from football and rugby to gymnastics and badminton, and there are clubs covering science, debate, drama, Model UN, choir, and book club. The school also provides support for a wide range of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. Bourne Grammar is a selective school, so it will suit families whose children are academically strong and likely to thrive in a high-expectation environment. Given its oversubscription and strong local reputation, parents should be prepared for a competitive admissions process, particularly for first-preference places.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Christian |
| Address | South Road, Bourne, South Kesteven, PE10 9JE |
| Headteacher | Mark Brunker |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,740 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,740 / 1,700 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 4 Dec 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.68)
296th of 3,141
Nationally
12th of 273
In East Midlands
3rd of 8
In South Kesteven
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
43.1
'22/23
39.1
'23/24
38.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2391%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 233 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)91%
- FE college6%
- Employment1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2369%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 247 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
39%
Russell Group
41%
Top-third HE
3%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)69%
- Employment19%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Further education2%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics71
- Biology67
- Business Studies:Single56
- Chemistry54
- Psychology51
- Economics40
- History39
- Law39
- Sociology37
- English Language35
- English Literature31
- Physics31
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed239
516
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
339 families put this school as their 1st choice (66% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British67.4%
- Asian13.3%
- Mixed10.0%
- White (other)5.5%
- Black0.9%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
3
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Bourne Grammar School
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
South Road, Bourne
South Kesteven, PE10 9JE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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