Sir John Nelthorpe School

About Sir John Nelthorpe School

Sir John Nelthorpe School in North Lincolnshire was rated Good overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2014. The school’s most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.46, which places it below the national average and also below the North Lincolnshire local authority average of -0.21. This means that, on average, pupils at the school achieve nearly half a grade less per subject across eight key GCSEs than pupils with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 7th out of 10 secondary schools in the local authority on this measure, and sits in the bottom 50% nationally. While the overall picture is mixed, the school’s Attainment 8 score of 42.8 suggests a solid baseline of results, with 63.8% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths.

At Key Stage 5, the sixth form is smaller, with just 18 pupils in the most recent data, and the value added score of -0.57 is rated as below average. The average points per entry is 26.12, equivalent to a grade C-, and no pupils achieved the AAB combination in facilitating subjects. Ofsted rated the sixth form provision as Requires Improvement in 2023, noting that leadership and management of the sixth form needed strengthening. At Key Stage 4, the school’s EBacc entry rate of 52.3% is healthy, though only 14.8% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. Progress in English (-0.7) and maths (-0.38) both lag behind the national average, with English being a particular area of weakness. The school’s ranking in Yorkshire and the Humber places it in the 77th percentile, meaning around a quarter of schools in the region perform worse on Progress 8.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 296 applications for 173 places and 169 first-preference offers, giving a ratio of 1.71 applicants per place. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and dedicated sixth form centre. The school offers a wide range of clubs from Model UN and coding to Duke of Edinburgh and gardening, and sports include rugby, netball, and dance. SEND provision covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disability. With 20.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a broadly representative intake. This is a school that has improved its Ofsted rating but still faces challenges in accelerating pupil progress, particularly in English and maths. It will suit families who value a broad extracurricular offer and a genuinely comprehensive intake, but who are prepared to support their child’s academic catch-up.

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