St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary Academy
96%
Capacity
606
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary Academy
St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary Academy in Lincoln is a mixed 11-18 state secondary that currently educates 606 pupils against a capacity of 628, meaning it is running very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 33.7%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools and suggests the school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage. Despite this, demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 195 applications for 98 places, an oversubscription ratio of nearly 2:1. Of those, 79 families put the school as their first preference, and 74 received first-preference offers. This level of demand is striking given the school’s current Ofsted rating, and suggests that its Catholic character and local reputation continue to attract families, even as the school works through a period of required improvement.
Academically, the school’s most recent data from 2023/24 shows a Progress 8 score of -0.58, which is well below the national average and significantly behind the Lincolnshire local authority average of -0.06. This places the school 42nd out of 57 similar schools in the county, and in the bottom 50 nationally by this measure. Attainment 8 sits at 37, and just 25.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 53.7%, but only 7.4% achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, which is rated Good by Ofsted, the picture is more mixed: a value-added score of -0.19 is classed as average, and the average points per entry is 22.3, equivalent to a D+. The best three A-levels average out at a D grade, with 18 pupils in the cohort.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, and a chapel, reflecting its Catholic foundation. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, martial arts, and hockey alongside more traditional offerings, and clubs include eco, coding, and Model UN. SEND support covers eight categories including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health. For families considering this school, the data paints a picture of a community school that is heavily oversubscribed despite academic challenges, suggesting it may suit those who prioritise faith-based education and a broad extracurricular offer over top-tier exam results. The sixth form, though small, is a particular strength according to Ofsted, and could appeal to students looking for a more supported post-16 environment.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Western Avenue, Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7SX |
| Headteacher | Caroline Hewerdine |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 606 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 33.7% |
| School Capacity | 606 / 628 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Apr 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.58)
2706th of 3,141
Nationally
233rd of 273
In East Midlands
6th of 8
In Lincoln
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
27.9
'22/23
17.7
'23/24
22.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2345%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 93 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college42%
- Not sustained4%
- Employment2%
- Sixth form college1%
- Apprenticeship1%
94% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 24 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
13%
Russell Group
13%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)54%
- Employment17%
- Other education13%
- Not sustained13%
- Apprenticeship4%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology17
- Sociology10
- Biology7
- English Literature5
- History5
- Mathematics4
- Chemistry3
- Physics3
- Religious Studies3
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed98
195
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
79 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:15
Source: sspp.lincs.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British58.4%
- White (other)13.9%
- Asian7.2%
- Mixed4.7%
- Black0.5%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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
7
Oversubscribed
3
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 St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary Academy
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
Western Avenue, Lincoln
Lincoln, LN6 7SX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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