The Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy, Gainsborough
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This is a caring school where staff treat pupils with genuine kindness and know families well. Children are captivated by story times and receive expert phonics teaching that sets them up as confident readers. The school excels at supporting all learners, including those with special needs, helping them participate fully and achieve well.
Key Strengths
- Excellent phonics teaching and reading instruction - children become confident, fluent readers early on
- Strong support for children with SEND, who are identified quickly and achieve well
- High expectations for behaviour that pupils meet, with a positive, respectful school culture
- Passionate approach to personal development with effective teaching about respect and different cultures
- Well-planned curriculum that builds knowledge and skills from early years through Year 2
Areas for Improvement
- Some learning activities don't focus sufficiently on what pupils need to know and remember, affecting achievement in certain subjects
- Pupils' understanding of all British values needs strengthening - they understand respect well but not other values as deeply
- Persistent absence among some groups of pupils means they miss important learning and fall behind
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders creating an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Leadership roles for pupils including Tiny Trustees and Reading Ambassadors, before and after-school club
The Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy is a lively and welcoming school where pupils flourish and achieve well. The school has been rated Good across all key areas, down from its previous Outstanding grade.
At a Glance
48.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
24.6
Avg class size
24.3
Infant (KS1)
7
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
128%
Over capacity
231 pupils
180 capacity
51 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Gainsborough
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Gainsborough
Admissions Demand - Lincolnshire
Places available
8,932
Applications
6,589
Got 1st preference
95.7%
Got preferred school
99.1%
Primary admissions across Lincolnshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(3)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.98778%
Overall absence
22.88136%
Persistent absence
118
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Gainsborough Hillcrest Early Years Academy
Nearby Schools
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