St Lawrence School, Horncastle
St Lawrence School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 16 in Horncastle, part of Inspire Connected Communities Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
St Lawrence School in detail
The trust
St Lawrence School is one of 4 schools run by Inspire Connected Communities Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 28 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 54% to a further education college.
Who goes there
64.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at St Lawrence School has an education, health and care plan (179 of 179 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
St Lawrence School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 180 places, 180 pupils on roll.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of St Lawrence School.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stanhope Terrace (opposite), 250 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 55 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lincolnshire (33), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Lawrence School issued 6 suspensions, 3.3 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Leaders and staff know each pupil extremely well. They are skilled in providing pupils with well-matched, yet challenging, lessons in a broad range of subjects. Pupils gain qualifications in, for example, English, mathematics and other vocational subjects. Pupils are supported effectively to improve their social, emotional and communication skills. They get a good deal here.
The vast majority of pupils behave well and follow sensible routines. Occasional instances of poor behaviour or bullying are dealt with swiftly and fairly. Pupils say that they are happy and feel safe here. They like, and show respect to, the staff.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Leaders have designed a well-sequenced and ambitious curriculum in most subjects. Teachers are clear about the knowledge, skills and vocabulary that pupils should learn and when. However, there is some work to do in a small number of other subjects. It is not precisely clear what pupils should learn in these subjects. There is an effective system in place for teachers to check how well pupils are progressing through the curriculum. This system helps teachers to identify gaps in pupils' knowledge and plan accurately for their next steps.
Teachers have good subject knowledge. They are adept at spotting pupils' misconceptions and sensitively correcting them. Pupils take an active role in lessons and contribute well. Staff provide appropriate support and extra resources when required. Low-level disruption is rare. Consequently, pupils work hard, and lessons run smoothly.
From Ofsted's June 2023 ungraded 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 Good at its October 2014 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
64.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Resourced provision: SpLD, Vision, Other +8
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Keep up with St Lawrence School
Before and after school care
St Lawrence School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Lincolnshire
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to St Lawrence School, with their latest published grades:
- Nurture Hub Daycare Nursery Horncastle Ltd - Day nursery, 0.3 milesOfsted, 30 September 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Wellies - Day nursery, 0.8 milesOfsted, 23 July 2025: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Lawrence School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Lawrence School is in Lincolnshire; for families living there:
- How to apply: Apply for reception to year 11 transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 7 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
179 pupils
180 places
1 spare place
as recorded on GIAS
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.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
179
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
St Lawrence School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 180 places, 180 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
179
Total Pupils
119
Boys
60
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
11.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,076
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.6%
Overall absence
46.4%
Persistent absence
183
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Lawrence School
Questions parents ask about St Lawrence School
What are SATs results like at St Lawrence School?
Of the pupils at St Lawrence School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is St Lawrence School's Ofsted rating?
St Lawrence School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Good.
How many pupils go to St Lawrence School?
St Lawrence School has around 179 pupils on roll. 65% are eligible for free school meals.
Does St Lawrence School have specialist SEN provision?
St Lawrence School has a resourced provision for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 180 places, 180 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at St Lawrence School?
14.6% of sessions were missed at St Lawrence School in 2024/25. 46.4% of pupils were persistently absent.
Does St Lawrence School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Lawrence School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026).
How many road collisions happen near St Lawrence School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 7 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 St Lawrence School?
St Lawrence School is at Bowl Alley Lane, Horncastle, Lincolnshire, LN9 5EJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)