The hardest schools to get into in Lincolnshire
Secondary: 438 families put The Priory Academy LSST first in 2026 and 205 of them (47%) were offered a place.
Reception: 27 families put The Edward Richardson Primary School, Tetford first in 2026 and 14 of them (52%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Lincolnshire with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Priory Academy LSST · Lincoln | 438 | 205 (47%) | 232 |
| 2 | Skegness Grammar School · Skegness · grammar (11-plus) | 129 | 70 (54%) | 71 |
| 3 | The King's School, Grantham · Grantham · grammar (11-plus) | 280 | 171 (61%) | 171 |
| 4 | Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School · Grantham · grammar (11-plus) | 268 | 180 (67%) | 180 |
| 5 | Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Horncastle · Horncastle · grammar (11-plus) | 167 | 113 (68%) | 118 |
| 6 | Spalding High School · Spalding · grammar (11-plus) | 202 | 142 (70%) | 149 |
| 7 | Queen Elizabeth's Grammar Alford - A Selective Academy · Alford · grammar (11-plus) | 86 | 61 (71%) | 68 |
| 8 | The Priory Ruskin Academy · Grantham | 224 | 161 (72%) | 196 |
| 9 | Boston High School · Boston · grammar (11-plus) | 158 | 116 (73%) | 119 |
| 10 | Charles Read Academy · Grantham | 55 | 42 (76%) | 49 |
| 11 | Bourne Grammar School · Bourne · grammar (11-plus) | 301 | 234 (78%) | 238 |
| 12 | John Spendluffe Foundation Technology College · Alford | 139 | 110 (79%) | 122 |
| 13 | Giles Academy · Boston | 188 | 149 (79%) | 170 |
| 14 | St Peter and St Paul, Catholic Voluntary Academy · Lincoln · faith | 102 | 81 (79%) | 108 |
| 15 | Caistor Grammar School · Market Rasen · grammar (11-plus) | 142 | 113 (80%) | 113 |
| 16 | Kesteven and Sleaford High School Selective Academy · Sleaford · grammar (11-plus) | 148 | 118 (80%) | 124 |
| 17 | Spalding Grammar School · Spalding · grammar (11-plus) | 153 | 123 (80%) | 146 |
| 18 | Cowley Academy · Spalding | 128 | 103 (81%) | 116 |
| 19 | Lincoln Christ's Hospital School · Lincoln · faith | 225 | 184 (82%) | 214 |
| 20 | William Farr CofE Comprehensive School · Lincoln · faith | 269 | 220 (82%) | 228 |
| 21 | Sir Robert Pattinson Academy · Lincoln | 272 | 223 (82%) | 241 |
| 22 | The Boston Grammar School · Boston · grammar (11-plus) | 163 | 134 (82%) | 136 |
| 23 | The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough · Gainsborough · grammar (11-plus) | 222 | 183 (82%) | 188 |
| 24 | West Grantham Church of England Secondary Academy · Grantham · faith | 116 | 98 (85%) | 123 |
| 25 | King Edward VI Grammar School · Louth · grammar (11-plus) | 146 | 125 (86%) | 130 |
| 26 | The Priory City of Lincoln Academy · Lincoln | 157 | 136 (87%) | 166 |
| 27 | Carre's Grammar School · Sleaford · grammar (11-plus) | 95 | 84 (88%) | 113 |
| 28 | The Banovallum School · Horncastle | 121 | 107 (88%) | 118 |
| 29 | Bourne Academy · Bourne | 254 | 232 (91%) | 248 |
| 30 | Spalding Academy · Spalding | 297 | 273 (92%) | 311 |
| 31 | The Priory Pembroke Academy · Lincoln | 114 | 105 (92%) | 125 |
| 32 | Sir William Robertson Academy, Welbourn · Lincoln | 159 | 153 (96%) | 185 |
| 33 | The Priory Witham Academy · Lincoln | 88 | 85 (97%) | 127 |
| 34 | University Academy Long Sutton · Spalding | 121 | 120 (99%) | 131 |
| 35 | St George's Academy · Sleaford | 307 | 307 (100%) | 343 |
| 36 | University Academy Holbeach · Spalding | 195 | 195 (100%) | 232 |
| 37 | Louth Academy · Louth | 165 | 165 (100%) | 188 |
| 38 | Branston Community Academy · Lincoln | 152 | 152 (100%) | 202 |
| 39 | The Gainsborough Academy · Gainsborough | 137 | 137 (100%) | 155 |
| 40 | Caistor Yarborough Academy · Market Rasen | 136 | 136 (100%) | 141 |
| 41 | Haven High Academy · Boston | 128 | 128 (100%) | 179 |
| 42 | The Deepings School · Peterborough | 127 | 127 (100%) | 156 |
| 43 | Stamford Welland Academy · Stamford | 117 | 117 (100%) | 125 |
| 44 | De Aston School · Market Rasen · faith | 104 | 104 (100%) | 139 |
| 45 | Lincoln Castle Academy · Lincoln | 98 | 98 (100%) | 173 |
| 46 | Skegness Academy · Skegness | 91 | 91 (100%) | 145 |
| 47 | Walton Academy · Grantham | 80 | 80 (100%) | 175 |
| 48 | Thomas Middlecott Academy · Boston | 79 | 79 (100%) | 115 |
| 49 | The Barnes Wallis Academy · Lincoln | 70 | 70 (100%) | 73 |
| 50 | King Edward VI Academy · Spilsby | 60 | 60 (100%) | 87 |
| 51 | Somercotes Academy · Louth | 56 | 56 (100%) | 76 |
| 52 | North Kesteven Academy · Lincoln | 52 | 52 (100%) | 140 |
| 53 | William Lovell Church of England Academy · Boston · faith | 47 | 47 (100%) | 63 |
Primary schools (Reception)
Getting into a school in Lincolnshire
What is the hardest school to get into in Lincolnshire?
For secondary places, 438 families put The Priory Academy LSST first in 2026 and 205 of them (47%) were offered a place. For Reception, 27 families put The Edward Richardson Primary School, Tetford first and 14 of them (52%) were offered a place.
The Priory Academy LSSTThe Edward Richardson Primary School, Tetford
How many families in Lincolnshire get their first-choice school?
84.7% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 96.3% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Lincolnshire published it in its admissions booklet.