The Priory Witham Academy
108%
Capacity
1,092
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About The Priory Witham Academy
The Priory Witham Academy is a large all-through state school in Lincoln, taking pupils from age 2 right through to 18. With 1,092 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,009, it is technically over capacity, and the demand for places is clear. For entry into Year 7 in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 250 applications for 119 places, with 116 of those coming as first preferences. That works out at just over two applications for every place, and 99 first-preference offers were made. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 52.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and reflects the local intake. The school is mixed and non-religious, with a nursery on site and a dedicated sixth form centre, making it a genuine all-through option for families who want their children to stay in one setting from early years to college.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2014. The graded inspection in 2016 had already moved it to Good, and the 2023 ungraded visit confirmed it remains Good. However, the headline Progress 8 score for Key Stage 4 in the 2023/24 results was -0.52, which is well below the local authority average of -0.06 and places the school in the bottom 50 nationally. Attainment 8 was 35, and 43% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score was 3.07, with 36.4% of pupils entering the EBacc combination. At A-level, the picture is similarly mixed: the value added score was -0.59, with an average points per entry of 17.71, equivalent to a D- grade. Only 16 pupils took A-levels, so the sixth form is small.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a chapel. Sports on offer include cross country, martial arts, swimming, and athletics, while clubs range from gardening and eco club to Model UN, debating, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, dyslexia, and physical disabilities. Given its oversubscription and high FSM intake, this is a school that serves its local community intensively. It will suit families who value a broad all-through journey with strong pastoral and SEND support, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that sit below the local average. The sixth form is small, so pupils aiming for a wider A-level choice may want to look at larger local colleges.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | De Wint Avenue, Lincoln, Lincoln, LN6 7DT |
| Headteacher | Micelle Garner Mrs Amy Tallentire |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,092 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 52.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,092 / 1,009 (108% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (17 May 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Dec 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.52)
2631st of 3,141
Nationally
224th of 273
In East Midlands
5th 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
21.1
'22/23
31.2
'23/24
17.7
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
2022/2334%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 90 pupils).
- FE college47%
- School sixth form (stay)34%
- Employment7%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship1%
92% 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: 41 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
0%
Russell Group
0%
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%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained15%
- Further education10%
- Apprenticeship5%
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- Mathematics (Statistics)7
- Mathematics5
- English Literature4
- History3
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
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed119
250
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
116 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.1%
- White (other)11.8%
- Mixed3.7%
- Asian2.6%
- Black0.2%
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.
8
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
5
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 Witham 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
De Wint Avenue, Lincoln
Lincoln, LN6 7DT
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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