The Priory Ruskin Academy
110%
Capacity
1,379
Pupils
2.6x
Demand
About The Priory Ruskin Academy
The Priory Ruskin Academy is a school that local parents clearly want to get into. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 526 applications for just 203 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.59. Of those, 227 families put it as their first preference, and 175 of those were offered a spot. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation among families in South Kesteven. The school is a mixed, state secondary for ages 11 to 19, with a sixth form, and it sits in Grantham. It’s also one of only four schools in the entire Lincolnshire local authority to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, which it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2017 and retained following an ungraded inspection in July 2024.
Academically, the school delivers solid results that sit comfortably above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.22 is rated ‘Above average’ by the Department for Education, and it compares favourably to the Lincolnshire LA average of -0.06. That means pupils here typically achieve nearly a quarter of a grade more per subject than students in similar schools nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 41.3, and just over half of pupils (50.6%) achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.12, which is rated as ‘Average’, and the average points per entry is 31.22, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+. In the East Midlands, the school ranks 74th out of 273 schools for Progress 8, putting it in the top third regionally.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. It offers a wide range of sports from rugby and hockey to martial arts, plus clubs like Model UN, Young Enterprise, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. SEND provision covers dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 29.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It’s oversubscribed, so families will need to apply early and likely live nearby. This is a strong, well-regarded comprehensive with an Outstanding Ofsted rating and academic results that outpace the local authority average, making it a solid choice for families in and around Grantham.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Rushcliffe Road, Grantham, South Kesteven, NG31 8ED |
| Headteacher | Ben Key |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,379 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 29.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,379 / 1,250 (110% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (17 Jul 2024): School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Dec 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.22)
1030th of 3,141
Nationally
74th of 273
In East Midlands
5th of 8
In South Kesteven
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
30.3
'22/23
27.9
'23/24
31.2
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: 222 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)45%
- FE college36%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained5%
95% 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
2022/2346%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 114 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
10%
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)46%
- Employment24%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education2%
- Other education1%
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- Psychology24
- Biology17
- History15
- Sociology14
- Geography13
- Government and Politics13
- Design and Technology (Product Design)12
- Mathematics12
- Art and Design (Photography)11
- Art and Design10
- Chemistry9
- Physics8
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
2025/26Oversubscribed203
526
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
227 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.9%
- White (other)9.2%
- Asian2.9%
- Mixed2.4%
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.
13
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
8
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 The Priory Ruskin 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
Rushcliffe Road, Grantham
South Kesteven, NG31 8ED
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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