Handel House Preparatory School, Gainsborough
Handel House Preparatory School is an independent school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Gainsborough. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a non-routine inspection in March 2026.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Handel House Preparatory School in detail
Handel House Preparatory School in its own words
In its own words: "The aims of the school are purely child-centred. The school provides ample opportunity through books, computers, practical resources, PE, games, swimming, regular assessment, annual examinations, a prefect, monitor and house system to enable the children to progress to achieving these aims."
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is such a privilege, after some thirty-five years in the teaching profession, to be leading such a vibrant co-educational day school here in the market town of Gainsborough."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
In 2026, 5 pupils (11.4%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gainsborough Central Rail Station, about 450 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hawthorn Avenue (opposite), 230 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 280 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lincolnshire (33), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. Ofsted last inspected this school in 7 October 2008, before the latest ISI inspection.
Non-Routine Inspection
6 March 2026
Routine Inspection
14 October 2025
Non-Routine Inspection
12 September 2023
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
8 November 2022
Regulatory Compliance
14 March 2018
Integrated
24 June 2014
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Keep up with Handel House Preparatory School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 21 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
49%
Available places
44 pupils
90 places
46 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Gainsborough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gainsborough
Across Lincolnshire council
Places available
9,247
Applications
7,828
Got 1st preference
84.7%
Got preferred school
96.4%
All secondary applications across Lincolnshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
11.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
44
Total Pupils
25
Boys
19
Girls
2026 academic year
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Handel House Preparatory School
Questions parents ask about Handel House Preparatory School
When was Handel House Preparatory School last inspected?
Handel House Preparatory School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a non-routine inspection in March 2026.
How many pupils go to Handel House Preparatory School?
Handel House Preparatory School has around 44 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Handel House Preparatory School?
Handel House Preparatory School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Handel House Preparatory School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 21 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Handel House Preparatory School?
Handel House Preparatory School is at The Northolme, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2JB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)