The Priory City of Lincoln Academy
About The Priory City of Lincoln Academy
The Priory City of Lincoln Academy is a secondary school in Lincoln that parents are clearly keen to get into. For the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 287 applications for 166 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1. 73. Of those applications, 143 were first-preference choices, and 133 first-preference offers were made. This level of demand suggests that local families see something valuable here, even though the school does not currently hold an Outstanding or Good Ofsted rating. Its most recent inspection, in 2023, rated overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, though it is worth noting that several individual areas were judged Good, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and the sixth-form provision. The school has a mixed intake of 944 pupils, with 35. 4 per cent eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average and points to a genuinely comprehensive community.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 May 2023Source: Ofsted, 3 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Priory City of Lincoln 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications