The Priory Academy LSST

The Priory Academy LSST continues to perform well overall, achieving a 'Good' rating in its recent inspection. The school demonstrates a strong commitment to high expectations and aspirational learning, which is reflected in the quality of education provided to its students. Notably, personal development and sixth-form provision were rated as 'Outstanding', indicating exceptional support for students' growth and preparation for future endeavors. This marks the first routine inspection since the pandemic and comes after a lengthy gap since the previous rating of 'Outstanding' 13 years ago, suggesting a stable yet evolving educational context for the school. Strengths of the school include a broad and ambitious curriculum that is expertly sequenced to promote knowledge retention and a positive school culture where pupils feel safe and welcome. The dedication to extracurricular activities further enhances students' experiences, allowing for growth beyond academics. However, some inconsistency in curriculum delivery was noted, highlighting areas where improvements can be focused to ensure all students, particularly those with SEND, receive the support they need to fully benefit from the school's offerings.

Strengths

• High expectations for all pupils
• Aspirational culture shared by staff and pupils
• Exceptional personal development support
• Outstanding sixth-form provision
• Broad range of extra-curricular activities
• Strong pastoral care and pupil well-being
• Effective support for reading and language skills
• Knowledgeable and specialist teachers

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent curriculum delivery in some lessons
• Routines for checking understanding not firmly established
• Inadequate support for pupils with SEND in some lessons

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 Priory Academy LSST attended 93.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 17.6% 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, 3.5% of pupils at The Priory Academy LSST were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). One pupil was 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 Priory Academy LSST had 17.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 7.4% 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, 8.9% of pupils at The Priory Academy LSST were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.7% 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 2024–25 The Priory Academy LSST received £7,768 and spent £7,673 for each of its 1,772 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,868,000 (£1,618 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of The Priory Federation of Academies, income was £8,686 and spending £8,648 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

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

The Priory Academy LSST is part of The Priory Federation of Academies, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• Bracebridge Infant and Nursery School Lincoln
• Bracebridge Heath St John's Primary Academy Lincoln
• The Priory Witham Academy Lincoln
• The Priory City of Lincoln Academy Lincoln
• Waddington Redwood Primary Academy Lincoln
• Ling Moor Primary Academy Lincoln
• Heighington Millfield Primary Academy Lincoln
• Cherry Willingham Primary Academy Lincoln
• The Priory Pembroke Academy Lincoln
• The Priory Ruskin Academy Grantham

What is The Priory Academy LSST's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Priory Academy LSST is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was The Priory Academy LSST last inspected by Ofsted?

The Priory Academy LSST was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does The Priory Academy LSST have?

The Priory Academy LSST has 1,749 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Priory Academy LSST cover?

The Priory Academy LSST for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Priory Academy LSST's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 52.0, and 51% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Priory Academy LSST?

The Priory Academy LSST is at Cross O'Cliff Hill, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN5 8PW.