Carre's Grammar School
96%
Capacity
799
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Carre's Grammar School
Carre's Grammar School is a mixed state secondary in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school has capacity for 830 pupils but currently houses 799, so it is running close to full. The demand is evident from the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: the school received 219 applications for 120 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.83 applicants per place. Of those, 126 were first-preference applications, and 114 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 9.2%, which is below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake compared with many state schools. The school does not have a religious character, and its headteacher is Nick Law.
Academically, Carre's Grammar School performs solidly across both key stages. At KS4, its Progress 8 score is -0.01, which is exactly in line with the national average and slightly above the local authority average of -0.06. The Attainment 8 score is 57.2, and 67% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 70.6%, with 33% achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2023, the school was rated Good overall, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate rating in June 2022. All key areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — were rated Good. At KS5, the school's value-added score is 0.26, which is above average, and the average points per entry is 34.42, equivalent to a C+ grade.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and a sixth-form centre. Sports provision is strong, with rowing, rugby, and gymnastics among the options, and there are numerous clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and coding. The school has a comprehensive SEND offer, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities. With 219 applications for 120 places, it is oversubscribed, so families will need to ensure they meet the admissions criteria. Carre's Grammar School is a good fit for families seeking a non-selective state school with strong sixth-form outcomes and a broad extracurricular programme, particularly those in the North Kesteven area who value a school that has turned around its Ofsted rating and now sits comfortably in the Good category.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Northgate, Sleaford, North Kesteven, NG34 7DD |
| Headteacher | Nick Law |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 799 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.2% |
| School Capacity | 799 / 830 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Dec 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.01)
1539th of 3,141
Nationally
124th of 273
In East Midlands
2nd of 7
In North Kesteven
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
42.5
'22/23
35.4
'23/24
34.4
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
2022/2381%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 108 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)81%
- FE college14%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship1%
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
2022/2370%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 129 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
37%
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)70%
- Employment16%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship5%
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- History33
- Mathematics32
- Geography28
- Psychology26
- Biology24
- Business Studies:Single24
- Chemistry16
- Physics16
- Design and Technology (Product Design)13
- English Literature9
- Physical Education / Sports Studies9
- English Language8
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
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed120
219
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
126 families put this school as their 1st choice (58% 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 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British83.7%
- White (other)5.1%
- Mixed4.9%
- Asian2.3%
- Black0.3%
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.
7
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
4
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 Carre's 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
Northgate, Sleaford
North Kesteven, NG34 7DD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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