Cowley Academy

About Cowley Academy

Cowley Academy’s Progress 8 score of -0.12 sits just below the Lincolnshire local authority average of -0.06, placing it in the middle of the pack for a state secondary. That gap is small — roughly one-tenth of a grade per subject — but it tells a nuanced story. The school ranks 31st out of 57 similar schools in the county, and 3rd out of 5 in the South Holland district. Its attainment 8 score of 43 is solid, and 55.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though that drops to 29.9% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is notably low at 4.7%, and just 2.4% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. Where Cowley really stands out is in its open element of Progress 8 — the part covering non-EBacc subjects — which comes in at +0.37, suggesting pupils perform well in the broader curriculum.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2025 marked a dramatic turnaround. Its previous inspection in July 2022 rated it Inadequate across all categories, but the latest report judged it Good overall, with leadership and management rated Outstanding. Behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and quality of education all received Good grades. This is a school that has clearly been through significant change under headteacher Katherine Kilby. Parent View responses from 70 families between September 2024 and September 2025 show a mixed picture: 80% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 88% felt their child is safe. However, only 34% agreed that SEND children receive the support they need, and 38% strongly disagreed — the lowest satisfaction score in the survey. Concerns about communication also surfaced, with 40% disagreeing that the school lets them know how their child is doing.

Cowley Academy is a non-selective, mixed secondary for ages 11 to 16 with no sixth form. It is heavily oversubscribed: for 110 places in 2025/26, there were 269 total applications, a ratio of 2.45 to one, and 129 first-preference applications for 101 offers. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake, with 35.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and chapel. The clubs list is broad — from coding and drama to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise — and sports include rugby, hockey, netball, and gymnastics. SEND provision covers dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, SEMH, speech and language needs, physical disabilities, and autism. This is a school that suits families who value strong leadership and a wide range of activities, but who may want to probe further on SEND support and parent communication before applying.

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