Frederick Gough School

About Frederick Gough School

Frederick Gough School, a mixed state secondary in North Lincolnshire for pupils aged 11 to 16, was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a rating it has held consistently across its previous inspection in 2018. However, the school’s academic outcomes tell a more complicated story. Its Progress 8 score, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, stands at -0.6. This places the school in the ‘Well below average’ banding nationally, ranking it 10th out of 10 secondary schools in the local authority and in the bottom 50% of schools across Yorkshire and the Humber. The local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.21, meaning Frederick Gough’s pupils, on average, achieve nearly half a grade less per subject than their peers in other North Lincolnshire schools.

Digging into the GCSE data, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 39.2, and just under half of pupils (48.9%) achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, dropping to 29% for a grade 5 or above. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is 48.5%, but only 14.1% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. Progress is weakest in English and the EBacc subjects, both at -0.69, and in maths at -0.61. The Ofsted breakdown from the 2023 inspection rated all areas as Good, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The school does not have a sixth form, so all pupils leave after Year 11. Compared with the top-performing schools in the area, such as Outwood Academy Foxhills (Progress 8 of +0.5), Frederick Gough’s results are significantly lower, which is an important consideration for parents focused on academic outcomes.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 326 first-preference applications for 268 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.8 to 1. It offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a theatre, and a chapel, plus clubs such as debate, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. Sports on offer include martial arts, gymnastics, and swimming. The school has a comprehensive SEND register, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 28.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse community. Given its Progress 8 score, this school may suit families who value its broad facilities and inclusive SEND support over top-tier academic results, and who are willing to engage closely with the school to ensure their child makes strong progress.

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