The Barnes Wallis Academy, Lincoln

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. At Barnes Wallis Academy we aim to provide each and every one of our students with the guidance and support they need to excel."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama and choir.

In 2026, pupils at The Barnes Wallis Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.9 in Lincolnshire and 47 across England.

28% 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 39.1.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.58: pupils made well below 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 30.9, against 43.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Food Preparation and Nutrition.

For September 2026 entry, 70 families put The Barnes Wallis Academy as their first choice and 139 named it as one of their preferences, for 73 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The Barnes Wallis 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 101 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 67% to a further education college, 8% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

42.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 122 pupils (25.3%) received SEN support and 35 (7.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of The Barnes Wallis Academy.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barnes Wallis Academy (outside), 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Barnes Wallis Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, The Barnes Wallis Academy issued 214 suspensions, 42 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Barnes Wallis Academy are Coningsby St Michael's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles), Tattershall Primary School (0.3 miles) and Tattershall Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.