Grantham’s King’s School and KGGS named East Midlands’ top two state schools in The Sunday Times’ Parent Power guide, with other Lincolnshire schools in top ten

Lincolnshire’s schools are leading the way in the East Midlands – taking seven of the top ten places for the region in an annual table produced by The Sunday Times.

Two Grantham schools occupy first and second place in the guide’s ranking of the best state or grammar schools in the East Midlands – while schools in Caistor, Sleaford, Bourne, Spalding and Gainsborough are all in the top ten.

It was the King’s School in Grantham that took the crown for best state school for the region in this year’s Parent Power guide, however.

The table, based on GSCE and A level results, also placed the Grantham school at 112 – up 13 places - in the top state schools in the country.

Kesteven and Grantham Girls' School (KGGS) was named as the second best in the region, 147th nationally, with the remaining three slots in the top five taken by Caistor Grammar School (156th nationally), Kesteven and Sleaford High School (158th nationally) and Bourne Grammar School (164th nationally).

Spalding High School was seventh for the region and Queen Elizabeth’s High School in Gainsborough was eighth.

Walton Academy in Grantham was named the third best comprehensive school in the East Midlands (273rd nationally).

It is the second year running that King’s School has won the top spot in the league table.

The news comes just months after the Brook Street-based school announced its A level results exceeded the pre-covid levels despite warnings nationally about declining grades.

Simon Pickett, the headmaster, said the ethos of his school rests on students enjoying their time there, making lifelong friendships and having their talents, values and needs recognised.

“It is an incredible honour for the King’s School to be recognised for our academic excellence among so many amazing schools,” he said.

“It is really important to us that our students enjoy their time at King’s, that they make lifelong friendships and that their individual interests, talents and needs are recognised and valued.

“Students, teachers, parents and carers have high expectations of academic rigour and conduct. We also place a great importance on extracurricular activities such as sport, music, the Combine Cadette Force, debating and clubs and activities.

“We hope that students leave as well-rounded individuals ready for an exciting life of learning and adventure.

“I am very grateful for the support of our community and delighted that the work ethic of the students, teachers, parents and carers has been recognised at a regional and national level.”

The Sunday Times report stated that “analysis of the school’s sixth form examination results underlines a pragmatic approach towards future destinations and vocations”.

The results showed that in maths and physics 67 students achieved 29 A* grades, in economics 39 students achieved 27 A*-B grades and in business studies 34 students notched up 20 A*-Bs.

Oundle School (third) and Uppingham School (fourth) also featured in the region’s top ten private schools.

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