Spalding High School
52%
Capacity
948
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Spalding High School
Spalding High School is a girls' secondary school in South Holland, Lincolnshire, currently educating 948 pupils against a capacity of 1,820, leaving room for growth. Its intake reflects a higher-than-average level of disadvantage, with 26.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, compared with the national secondary average of around 23%. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 533 applications for 300 places, with 259 first-preference offers made from 295 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.78. This suggests a school that is popular locally, particularly among families who prioritise it as their top choice. The school is non-denominational and led by headteacher Michele Anderson, who took over a school that has seen significant improvement in its Ofsted rating over time.
Academically, Spalding High School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.42 is classified as 'Above average' nationally, and comfortably exceeds the Lincolnshire local authority average of -0.06. This places the school 9th out of 57 state secondary schools in the county. In the South Holland district specifically, it ranks 1st out of 5 schools. Attainment 8 sits at 44.1, with 54% of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The school's EBacc entry rate is relatively low at 10%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.43, but the open element of Progress 8 is notably strong at 1.24, indicating pupils perform particularly well in subjects outside the core EBacc suite. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in April 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, gymnasium, art studios, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include tennis, netball, swimming, and martial arts, while clubs range from Young Enterprise and Model UN to coding and drama. SEND provision covers eight areas, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. Parent View responses from 83 families show strong satisfaction: 81% would recommend the school, and 86% agree or strongly agree that the school has high expectations for their child. However, only 52% agree that SEND children receive the support they need, and 36% disagree or strongly disagree on that point, which is worth noting for families with specific needs. The school is oversubscribed, so applying as a first preference is advisable. It suits families looking for a girls-only state school with strong academic progress, a wide extracurricular offer, and a sixth form on site.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Stonegate, Spalding, South Holland, PE11 2PJ |
| Headteacher | Michele Anderson |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 948 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.1% |
| School Capacity | 948 / 1,820 (52% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Apr 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (2 Apr 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 9 Jul 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.42)
622nd of 3,141
Nationally
36th of 273
In East Midlands
1st of 5
In South Holland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2323%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 175 pupils).
- FE college55%
- School sixth form (stay)23%
- Not sustained9%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
90% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
83 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed300
533
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
295 families put this school as their 1st choice (55% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:25
Source: spaldinghigh.lincs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British62.6%
- White (other)28.3%
- Asian2.0%
- Mixed1.9%
- Black0.6%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% 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
6
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 Spalding High 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
Stonegate, Spalding
South Holland, PE11 2PJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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