Hawthorn Tree School
88%
Capacity
368
Pupils
2.5x
Demand
About Hawthorn Tree School
Hawthorn Tree School is a popular choice among Boston families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 82 applications for just 33 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.48. That means nearly two and a half families applied for every spot, and all 33 first-preference offers were taken up. While the school doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, the sheer demand suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, with a capacity of 420 and currently 368 pupils on roll. It has a higher-than-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 32.9%, and its religious character is listed as 'does not apply'.
Academically, Hawthorn Tree sits in a challenging position within the local authority. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, with Good marks for leadership, behaviour, and early years provision. This was a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when it was rated Requires Improvement. However, at Key Stage 2, only 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Lincolnshire local authority average of 57%. That places the school 12th out of 15 primary schools in Boston, and in the bottom 50% nationally. Individual subject scores were mixed: 73% hit the expected standard in maths, but just 55% did so in reading, and only 2% of pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a library, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, and a sensory room. Sports provision covers rounders, athletics, swimming, and netball, while clubs include coding, chess, and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and hearing impairments. Given the high oversubscription, families living close to the school or with a strong connection to it will have the best chance of securing a place. Hawthorn Tree suits parents who value a Good-rated school with improving leadership and a broad range of activities, but who are aware that its academic outcomes currently sit below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Toot Lane, Boston, Boston, PE21 0PT |
| Headteacher | Sam Jessup |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 368 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 32.9% |
| School Capacity | 368 / 420 (88% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (16 Nov 2022): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 7 Dec 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (50%)
10918th of 13,686
Nationally
1050th of 1,353
In East Midlands
12th of 15
In Boston
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
50%
Expected Standard
2%
Higher Standard
'22/23
63%
'23/24
50%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
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
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed33
82
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
33 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British64.7%
- White (other)26.4%
- Mixed5.4%
- Asian0.8%
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.
3
Total schools
2
Oversubscribed
2
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 Hawthorn Tree School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Toot Lane, Boston
Boston, PE21 0PT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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