The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough

The Queen Elizabeth’s High School in Gainsborough has shown significant improvement since its previous inspection, achieving a 'Good' rating across all categories. The school has implemented robust systems to monitor its progress, fostering a high-expectation environment where most students, including those with special educational needs, thrive academically and socially. Parents express great satisfaction with the school's commitment to the students’ growth and well-being, reflecting a positive school culture and a diverse curriculum that prepares pupils for their futures.

Strengths

• High expectations lead to student success in academic studies.
• Positive and productive interactions among pupils and staff.
• A rich educational experience with diverse extracurricular activities.
• Ambitious curriculum offering a broad range of subjects.
• Improved provision for pupils with SEND, focused on their needs.
• Strong focus on personal development and support for mental health.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in curriculum planning and delivery across some subjects.
• Some staff feel unsupported regarding workload and well-being.
• New governors need time to fully understand their roles and responsibilities.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough attended 95.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 15.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 1.0% of pupils at The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough had 18.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 1.5% of pupils at The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 0.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough received £7,364 and spent £7,444 for each of its 1,139 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £464,000 (£407 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Gainsborough · Lincolnshire local authority: places and applications

What is The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.

When was The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough last inspected by Ofsted?

The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough was last inspected in January 2024.

How many pupils does The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough have?

The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough has 1,139 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough cover?

The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 62.0, and 74% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough?

The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough is at Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2ST.