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St Lawrence School, Horncastle

Good
Special
Academy special converter
Mixed
Ages 5–16

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)
New inspections, open days and news, by email.

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.

All 4 schools in Inspire Connected Communities 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

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Catherine Askham
Pupils:179
LA:Lincolnshire
Phone:01507522563
Address:Bowl Alley Lane, Horncastle, LN9 5EJ
Trust:INSPIRE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES TRUST (4 schools)
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2015

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 years ago

This 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.

Inspected 28 June 2023View full report
URN:142308
UKPRN:10053887
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Louth and Horncastle
Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Further from a major town or city

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 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
ReadingMathsWriting

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:

Getting There

Bus Stops

Stanhope Terrace (opp)
246m · 4 min walk
Carlisle Gardens (N-bound)
305m · 5 min walk
Primary School (adj)
307m · 5 min walk
Stanhope Road (adj)
319m · 5 min walk
Lancaster Avenue (adj)
326m · 5 min walk

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:

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

See commute times and house prices with Pro - £9 a month, or £90 a year, inc. VAT

Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

99%

Near capacity

179 pupils

180 places

1 spare place

as recorded on GIAS

Across Lincolnshire council

Low demand council-wide0.85 applications per place

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)

28 June 2023

Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.

5 June 2018
16 October 2014
Good
Leadership & ManagementGood

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.

Specific Learning Difficulty
Moderate Learning Difficulty
Severe Learning Difficulty
Profound & Multiple LD
Social, Emotional & Mental Health
Speech, Language & Communication
Hearing Impairment
Visual Impairment
Multi-Sensory Impairment
Physical Disability
Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Other

Pupils by Need Type

Speech, Language & Communication73
Autistic Spectrum Disorder51
Social, Emotional & Mental Health22
Moderate Learning Difficulty13
Physical Disability5
Specific Learning Difficulty4
Severe Learning Difficulty4
Profound & Multiple LD3
Multi-Sensory Impairment2
Other2
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
90.5%
Asian
1.1%
Black
2.3%
Mixed
3.9%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals64.8%
English as Additional Language2.8%

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 Absence
2024/25

14.6%

Overall absence

46.4%

Persistent absence

183

Enrolments

Authorised9.2%
Unauthorised5.4%
Persistent (10%+)46.4%
Severe (50%+)6.6%

Absence trend

10.1%
18/19
27.6%
20/21
16.5%
21/22
14.4%
22/23
16.5%
23/24
14.6%
24/25
Overall absence rate

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

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)

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