Waltham Toll Bar Academy
73%
Capacity
1,730
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Waltham Toll Bar Academy
Waltham Toll Bar Academy is a large mixed secondary school in North East Lincolnshire, currently educating 1,730 pupils against a total capacity of 2,355, meaning it is not yet full but is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 423 applications for 254 places, with 248 of those offers going to first-preference families, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.67. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 17.5%, which is slightly above the national average for secondary schools and reflects a broadly typical intake for the area. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Philip Dickinson. It also operates its own sixth form, which is a significant draw for families looking for continuity through to age 18.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good across all five categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This represents a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2013, but the school remains a solid performer locally. At Key Stage 4, its Progress 8 score is -0.19, which is below the national average but significantly above the North East Lincolnshire local authority average of -0.57, placing it 4th out of 11 schools in the area. The Attainment 8 score is 46.5, and 67.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average points per entry is 29.47, equivalent to a grade C, and the value-added score is -0.29, which is rated as below average. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 25.3%, with 16.3% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, music rooms, art studios, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is strong, with options like swimming, rowing, rugby, cricket, and martial arts, while clubs include science, coding, chess, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, dyslexia, hearing and visual impairments, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Given its size, strong local demand, and above-average Progress 8 compared with the LA average, this school is likely to suit families who want a large, well-resourced secondary with a broad curriculum and a sixth form, but who are realistic about its academic outcomes being solid rather than outstanding.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Station Road, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN36 4RZ |
| Headteacher | Philip Dickinson |
| Local Authority | North East Lincolnshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,730 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,730 / 2,355 (73% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
18 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.19)
1985th of 3,141
Nationally
181st of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
4th of 11
In North East Lincolnshire
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
34.9
'22/23
34.1
'23/24
29.5
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
2022/2317%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 354 pupils).
- Sixth form college38%
- FE college32%
- School sixth form (stay)17%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained3%
97% 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: 114 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
46%
Russell Group
47%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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%
- Employment19%
- Apprenticeship15%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education2%
- Other education2%
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- Biology34
- Chemistry30
- Business Studies:Single25
- Psychology25
- History17
- Economics14
- Geography12
- Mathematics12
- English Language11
- Government and Politics10
- Physical Education / Sports Studies8
- English Literature6
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed254
423
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
248 families put this school as their 1st choice (59% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Source: walthamtollbaracademy.co.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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.9%
- Mixed4.2%
- White (other)3.9%
- Asian3.8%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
4
Total schools
4
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Waltham Toll Bar 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
Station Road, Grimsby
North East Lincolnshire, DN36 4RZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Waltham Toll Bar Academy!
Write a Review