Branston Church of England Infant Academy, Lincoln
Branston Church of England Infant Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 7 in Lincoln, part of Lincoln Anglican Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024. It was 98% full in 2025.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lincolnshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Branston Church of England Infant Academy in detail
Branston Church of England Infant Academy in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 4.30pm, an open evening on Wednesday 4 November 2026, an admissions event on Monday 16 November 2026 and an admissions event on Friday 16 April 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Lincolnshire
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Getting a place at Branston Church of England Infant Academy
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put Branston Church of England Infant Academy as their first choice and 68 named it as one of their preferences, for 35 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Branston Church of England Infant Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Branston Church of England Infant Academy are Branston Junior Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 66% reading, 61% maths); Heighington Millfield Primary Academy (1.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 87% maths); Washingborough Academy (1.8 miles, Good, 74% reading, 68% maths); and Bracebridge Heath St John's Primary Academy (2.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 60% maths).
Branston Junior AcademyHeighington Millfield Primary AcademyWashingborough AcademyBracebridge Heath St John's Primary Academy
The trust
Branston Church of England Infant Academy is one of 24 schools run by Lincoln Anglican Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
16.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 11 pupils (8.3%) received SEN support and 4 (3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Lincoln Central Rail Station, about 3.2 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Infant School (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Branston Church of England Infant Academy stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 8th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Branston Church of England Infant Academy recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils thrive at this inclusive and caring school. Pupils said that they enjoy coming to school and learning. The school has high expectations of all pupils. They achieve exceptionally well. Parents and carers are incredibly positive about the school. Typical comments from them are that the school is 'amazing' and a 'fantastic welcoming environment'.
There are positive relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils know they are well cared for and safe at school. They said they have many adults in school they can talk to if they are worried. Pupils behave exceptionally well. Most have excellent attitudes to learning. At break and lunchtime, pupils behave sensibly. They play well together and enjoy taking part in a range of activities. Staff support pupils well in these activities so that pupils learn to socialise together. Pupils show high levels of respect for each other and staff.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has designed a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils. It is well planned and precisely identifies what pupils will learn and when. This supports all teachers in delivering the curriculum to a high standard. As a result, all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make excellent progress through the curriculum.
Teachers have excellent subject knowledge and model new learning extremely effectively. Staff use questions very well to check and develop pupils' understanding. Teachers quickly address any misconceptions so pupils can securely build on previous learning. Teachers use engaging activities to help pupils develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Pupils consistently produce high-quality work. Staff use morning registration time to help pupils recall what they have previously learned. This helps pupils remember long term what they have been taught. For example, pupils in Year 1 could confidently recall the names of the different parts of a flower.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
Rated Good for
Behaviour & attitudes.
At a Glance
16.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
26.4
Avg class size
25.8
Infant (KS1)
5
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Branston Church of England Infant Academy
Newsletter Issue 5
2 Oct 2026
Newsletter Issue 4
25 Sep 2026
Newsletter Issue 3
18 Sep 2026
Newsletter Issue 2
11 Sep 2026
Newsletter Issue 1
4 Sep 2026
Newsletter Issue 41
17 Jul 2026
From Branston Church of England Infant Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Branston Church of England Infant Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Branston Church of England Infant Academy.
- Big Pickles before and after school club810m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Branston Church of England Infant Academy is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Lincolnshire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Branston Church of England Infant Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Branston Church of England Infant Academy is in Lincolnshire; for families living there:
Apply to Lincolnshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Branston Church of England Infant Academy
Will you get a place at Branston Church of England Infant Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Branston Church of England Infant Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Branston Church of England Infant Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Branston Church of England Infant Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lincolnshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Branston Church of England Infant Academy for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lincolnshire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
132 pupils
135 places
3 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Lincoln
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Lincoln
Across Lincolnshire council
Places available
8,940
Applications
6,453
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.7%
All primary applications across Lincolnshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
11
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
11.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
132
Total Pupils
66
Boys
66
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
16.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,104
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,383
Per pupil
£810k
Total funding
£30k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
7.8%
Persistent absence
90
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Branston Church of England Infant Academy
Questions parents ask about Branston Church of England Infant Academy
What is Branston Church of England Infant Academy's Ofsted rating?
Branston Church of England Infant Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Branston Church of England Infant Academy is oversubscribed, Lincolnshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
Branston Church of England Infant Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
Classes at Branston Church of England Infant Academy average 26.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
Branston Church of England Infant Academy has around 132 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Branston Church of England Infant Academy in 2024/25. 7.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
Apply through Lincolnshire's coordinated admissions process, naming Branston Church of England Infant Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Branston Church of England Infant Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of Branston Church of England Infant Academy: Big Pickles before and after school club (810m away, registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lincolnshire is 6 (the median across 401 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Branston Church of England Infant Academy?
Branston Church of England Infant Academy is at Beech Road, Valley Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN4 1PR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)