University Academy Long Sutton
97%
Capacity
696
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About University Academy Long Sutton
University Academy Long Sutton is a mixed secondary school in South Holland, Lincolnshire, currently educating 696 pupils against a capacity of 720, meaning it is very close to full but not yet oversubscribed in terms of total roll. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 39.9%, which is significantly higher than the national average and suggests the school serves a community with considerable economic disadvantage. Despite having a few spare places overall, the school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26: it received 221 applications for 136 places, with 149 of those as first preferences, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.63. This level of demand indicates that local families are actively choosing the school, even though it is not a selective or faith school. The headteacher is Liam Davé, and the school has no religious character or sixth form, so pupils must move on after Year 11.
Academically, the school’s most recent data from 2023/24 shows a Progress 8 score of -0.68, which is classified as well below average and places it 47th out of 57 schools in the Lincolnshire local authority. This is a significant gap from the LA average Progress 8 of -0.06. The Attainment 8 score is 35.8, and just 19.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 51.1% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is very low at 2.9%, and no pupils entered the full EBacc combination. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in September 2023, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, a step up from its previous Inadequate rating in 2019. The inspection report noted that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management were all rated Good, while the quality of education remains Requires Improvement.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, swimming pool, tennis courts, science labs, and an ICT suite, plus a library and a sixth form centre (though there is no sixth form on site). Sports provision is broad, covering football, rugby, cricket, basketball, hockey, tennis, badminton, martial arts, and cross country, and there are clubs such as Book Club, Coding, Drama, Eco Club, Young Enterprise, DofE, Art Club, and Gardening. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties. This school is likely to suit families in the South Holland area who want a local, non-selective option and who value the improved behaviour and leadership noted by Ofsted, but who are aware that academic outcomes currently lag behind the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | 84 Little London, Spalding, South Holland, PE12 9LF |
| Headteacher | Liam Davé |
| Local Authority | Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 696 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 39.9% |
| School Capacity | 696 / 720 (97% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 14 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.68)
2821st of 3,141
Nationally
250th of 273
In East Midlands
5th of 5
In South Holland
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2315%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 112 pupils).
- FE college67%
- School sixth form (stay)15%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Sixth form college1%
89% 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.
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
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed136
221
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
149 families put this school as their 1st choice (67% 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 British87.1%
- White (other)5.2%
- Asian2.7%
- Mixed1.5%
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.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
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 University Academy Long Sutton
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
84 Little London, Spalding
South Holland, PE12 9LF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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