Charles Read Academy, Grantham

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Charles Read Academy on 6 areas: 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils are typically well prepared for their next steps."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a well-structured curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Overall, the school identifies the needs of pupils well."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the school's strengths and the areas that need further improvement."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that pupils benefit from a well-planned personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders consistently promote the importance of regular attendance at school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that assessment of pupils' work is consistent so that gaps in learning are identified and addressed quickly, and all pupils build the foundational skills they need for future learning"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen and implement strategies to support attendance so that attendance for all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, improves over time"; "Leaders should strengthen their work to improve the behaviour of those pupils who repeatedly do not meet the school's high expectations, including the most vulnerable pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that the personal development curriculum enables all pupils to confidently recall their learning about British values, world cultures and religions, so that they are well prepared for life in modern Britain".

From the headteacher's welcome: "David Ross Education Trust schools create a rich and exciting learning environment that inspires students to become their confident, academic best. We seek to broaden the horizons of each and everyone of our students encouraging academic excellence and transferable life skills enabling all to become effective members of our 21st century society."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include gardening and debating.

In 2026, pupils at Charles Read Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 38.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Lincolnshire and 47 across England.

25% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 43% in Lincolnshire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 37.6.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.58: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 34.6, against 42.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 17 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were History, Combined Science and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 55 families put Charles Read Academy as their first choice and 144 named it as one of their preferences, for 49 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 13 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

Charles Read Academy is one of 36 schools run by The David Ross Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.5 in 2024/25.

Of the 51 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 77% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

40.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 114 pupils (41.2%) received SEN support and 21 (7.6%) 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.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Charles Read Academy.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ferndale Close (opposite), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often public order offences and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lincolnshire (33).

In 2024/25, Charles Read Academy issued 270 suspensions, 101.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.