De Aston School Review 2026: Heritage academy with a broad curriculum and a strong sixth form route

De Aston School sits in a town that is large enough to be connected, but small enough for schools to feel genuinely rooted. That local identity runs deep here, because the school traces its name and origins to medieval charitable foundations and a later decision to direct those funds into education. The modern school opened in October 1863, initially with eleven pupils, and it has evolved through grammar and comprehensive eras into today’s 11 to 18 academy.

Today, De Aston offers a full secondary curriculum and a sizeable sixth form, with a school day that runs 8:30am to 3:30pm. External assessment confirms a calm and supportive environment, alongside clear areas the school is working to tighten, particularly consistency of SEND support and pockets of low level disruption in Key Stage 3.

Headteacher Mr Simon Porter has led the school since 2017, after serving within the school for many years.

De Aston’s identity is shaped by two influences that do not always coexist comfortably in secondary schools, a comprehensive intake, and a long institutional memory. The school’s heritage material sets out a clear through line, a medieval charity connected to Thomas de Aston and the Dean and Chapter of Lincoln, later reforms to direct surplus income towards education, and the formal founding of “The De Aston School” in Market Rasen in 1863. For families, that history matters less for nostalgia and more for culture. Schools with deep roots often place a premium on continuity, routines, and a sense that the school belongs to the area, not just the current cohort.

That culture also shows up in the way the school structures belonging. De Aston operates a house system of four houses, Lancasters, Typhoons, Vulcans, and Spitfires, each named after an aircraft. House systems can be tokenistic. Here, the naming suggests a deliberate attempt to build shared identity across year groups and to run competitions and leadership opportunities that are not limited to the most confident students.

The latest inspection evidence paints the day to day climate as calm, safe, and supportive, with pupils generally friendly and polite. It also acknowledges that a small number of pupils do not always meet behaviour expectations, and that staff respond promptly when behaviour slips. That balance is important for parents to understand. This is not a setting where challenges are denied; the expectation is that behaviour is actively managed, and that the direction of travel depends on consistency across staff and subjects.

Christian character is part of the school’s formal designation and governance context. For families who value a values led ethos, it is also helpful that the school has had a recent Section 48 inspection in July 2025 (the statutory denominational inspection for schools with a religious character), which indicates that the faith aspect is kept under current review.

De Aston is a secondary school with sixth form, so the most useful way to read results is in two layers, GCSE performance and post 16 outcomes.

GCSE outcomes

At GCSE level, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 40.1, and its Progress 8 score is -0.38. A negative Progress 8 score indicates that, on average, pupils made less progress than similar pupils nationally from their starting points across eight key subjects. The English Baccalaureate average point score is 3.51, and 9% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across the English Baccalaureate subjects.

Rankings should be used as signposts rather than verdicts, but they help with local benchmarking. Ranked 2,931st in England and 3rd locally in Market Rasen for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), results sit below England average, placing the school in the bottom 40% of schools in England (60th to 100th percentile).

What this means in practice is that many pupils do well, but outcomes are not yet consistently strong across the full cohort. For parents, the implication is to look closely at fit and support, particularly for pupils who need highly structured challenge, or those who need consistent adaptive teaching to thrive.

A-level outcomes

At A-level, the grade distribution shows 0.97% at A*, 3.88% at A, 24.27% at B, and 29.13% at A* to B. England averages for comparison are 23.6% at A* to A and 47.2% at A* to B.

Ranked 2,262nd in England and 2nd locally in Market Rasen for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the sixth form’s results also sit below England average, placing it in the bottom 40% of schools in England (60th to 100th percentile).

This is not a reason to dismiss the sixth form. It is a signal about cohort wide attainment. Many sixth forms that serve a broad range of prior attainment focus strongly on progression, retention, and building confidence for next steps, rather than selecting only the highest attaining students. The key question for families is whether the sixth form’s academic support, course guidance, and culture of independent study matches the student in front of you.

The inspection evidence provides a useful map of where De Aston is already strong and where it is still evening out practice. Curriculum breadth is a clear priority, with a wide range of subjects through the key stages and deliberate emphasis on English Baccalaureate subjects.

Where this becomes concrete is at subject level. English is described as particularly well planned in the inspection report, and the department’s published enrichment list shows a structured approach to oracy, reading, and public performance. Students can access Debating Club linked to ESU competitions, Creative Writing Club producing anthologies, Shakespeare Society with Shakespeare Schools Festival participation, and Poetry by Heart, alongside the Newspaper Club producing the De Aston Voice. The implication for students is that English is positioned not only as a GCSE and A-level subject, but as a confidence and communication engine for the wider curriculum.

Science provides another example of teaching being translated into coherent practice. The department describes the use of curriculum booklets designed as combined textbook and workbook, and a homework approach using KayScience to consolidate substantive knowledge. It also runs Science Club and participates in Project X (linked to RAF Waddington) and Top of the Bench (a chemistry competition run by the University of Lincoln), with trips including Yorkshire Wildlife Park for Year 7 ecology and The Deep in Hull for Year 8 adaptations. This is the type of programme that suits students who learn best when classroom theory is consistently tied to real contexts and practical application.

The area that requires the most careful reading is SEND. Pupils with SEND follow the same curriculum as their peers, but the inspection evidence highlights inconsistency in how well staff adapt and modify learning so that these pupils can achieve as well as they could. For families, the best next step is to ask precise questions about how subject teachers are supported to adapt tasks, what quality assurance looks like, and what day to day interventions exist beyond a plan on paper. A positive practical indicator is the availability of a lunchtime homework club for students who need help completing homework.

For a school with sixth form, progression needs to be viewed through two lenses, the sixth form experience itself, and the destinations students secure at the end of Year 13.

De Aston’s sixth form offer emphasises flexibility and programme building. The sixth form prospectus describes individual timetables and the ability to combine a wide range of courses, with preliminary choices made on application and final decisions confirmed once GCSE results are known. It also references a Level 2 pathway that can include English and mathematics resits, alongside enrichment such as the Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and a Sports Leadership Award. That combination suggests a sixth form serving a mixed attainment range, with both academic and applied routes.

On destinations, the published leaver outcomes for the most recent cohort show 51% progressing to university, 11% starting apprenticeships, 9% entering employment, and 7% moving into further education. The cohort size is 57 students.

For families, the implication is that university remains the most common route, but not the only one. A meaningful minority take vocational and employment routes, which often reflects strong careers guidance and the realism of matching route to student, rather than pushing a single prestige pathway.

Oxbridge outcomes are modest but present. In the measurement period, two Cambridge applications resulted in one offer and one student taking up a place. That matters less as a marketing point and more as evidence that the sixth form can support high ceiling applicants when the student, grades, and subject profile align.

Year 7 entry (September 2026)

De Aston’s Year 7 admissions are coordinated through Lincolnshire’s admissions process rather than direct school allocation. The school’s admissions page confirms that applications follow the county coordinated timetable and offers are made by the relevant local authority.

For September 2026 entry, Lincolnshire’s published secondary admissions timeline states that applications open on 8 September 2025 and close on 31 October 2025. The county’s final late deadline is 12 December 2025. Offers are made on 2 March 2026.

Where families should be careful is in assuming that a place is straightforward. The most recent published admissions figures associated with this school show 255 applications for 162 offers, which indicates demand above supply.

If you are comparing multiple options, the FindMySchoolMap Search is a sensible way to sanity check practicalities such as travel time and the position of your home relative to likely transport routes, and then cross reference this with each school’s oversubscription criteria.

Sixth form entry (September 2026)

The school’s sixth form information indicates that applications for September 2026 entry open in October 2025. As with most sixth forms, the practical decision point for students often comes after GCSE results are known, particularly where subject suitability and entry requirements are involved. Families should expect a combination of initial application, guidance around course choice, and confirmation post results.

Transport and designated areas

Transport matters in rural and semi rural Lincolnshire, and De Aston publishes detailed transport information including service references and stops, alongside designated transport area mapping. The town also has a railway station, which can be relevant for sixth formers commuting from further afield.

Pastoral systems work best when they are legible to students, consistent across staff, and backed by a clear safeguarding culture. De Aston’s external evaluation describes a calm, safe environment and points to a culture where bullying is not accepted and is dealt with quickly when it arises. A named “Call it out” programme is highlighted as part of the school’s approach to ensuring pupils feel safe.

The second pillar is safeguarding practice. The inspection confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective, including staff training, clear reporting systems, accurate record keeping, and work with external agencies where needed. For parents, the practical implication is that safeguarding is treated as operational work, not an annual policy exercise.

The main pastoral caveat is consistency for pupils who need additional support. Where SEND support varies between staff, the student experience can become uneven across the timetable. The most useful questions at open events are therefore granular, how teachers are trained to adapt learning, what “good” adaptation looks like in lessons, and how leaders check that adaptations are happening routinely.

Extracurricular is where De Aston becomes more distinctive than the standard “clubs and teams” promise. The strongest evidence sits in departments that publish named activities and structured participation.

English provides a strong menu for students who like speaking, performance, and writing. Debating Club links to national competitions such as ESU formats; Creative Writing Club produces anthologies; Poetry by Heart develops recital and memory; Shakespeare Society participates in the Shakespeare Schools Festival; and the Newspaper Club produces the De Aston Voice, culminating in a print edition for Newspaper Day. The implication is that students can build confidence in public performance and structured argument, skills that transfer directly into humanities subjects and post 16 applications.

STEM enrichment is also specific rather than generic. Science Club sits alongside Project X (linked to RAF Waddington), Top of the Bench (University of Lincoln chemistry competition), and structured trips linked to curriculum content. For students considering engineering, aviation, healthcare, or environmental pathways, this kind of programme signals that enrichment is aligned with real routes, not just internal certificates.

Drama appears to be active and outward facing, with productions including “DNA”, a talent show, house drama, whole school musicals, and participation in the Stephen Lawrence Project linked to Lincolnshire’s Hate Crime Conference. Students who thrive on performance and collaboration usually benefit from the discipline of rehearsals and the social mix of cross year productions.

For structured personal development, Duke of Edinburgh is available at Bronze for Year 9 and Year 10, and Silver for sixth form. In practice, that programme tends to suit students who want tangible milestones and who do well with longer term commitment.

Sport is supported by extensive facilities. Published information references rugby and football pitches, a sports hall, a fitness suite, and a floodlit 3G astro turf, and the PE facilities listing also references a dance studio and a 400m running track. The implication is that participation is not constrained by space, which matters in winter and when multiple teams and year groups need access.

The standard school day runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. Term dates are published well in advance, including for 2026 to 27, which helps families planning travel and childcare.

As a secondary school, De Aston does not typically operate wraparound care in the same way a primary does; families should check directly for any supervised study or after school arrangements for younger year groups, particularly for pupils who rely on transport schedules.

Transport is an important practical consideration. The school publishes bus service information, and Market Rasen rail station provides an additional option for some sixth form students.

• Consistency for SEND. Support for pupils with SEND was described as inconsistent in the latest inspection evidence. For families of pupils who need regular adaptation, the key question is how the school checks that adaptations happen in everyday lessons, not just in targeted interventions.

• Behaviour pockets in Key Stage 3. Behaviour is generally described as good, but there are small pockets of low level disruption and antisocial behaviour, particularly in Key Stage 3. This matters most for pupils who find disruption distracting or anxiety provoking.

• Post 16 attainment profile. A-level outcomes sit below England averages. For students aiming for highly competitive courses, it is sensible to ask how the sixth form identifies high prior attainers, stretches them academically, and supports applications.

• Christian character. The school’s Christian designation is part of its identity, and denominational inspection activity is current. Families who prefer a fully secular ethos should explore what the faith element looks like in assemblies, curriculum, and school life.

De Aston School offers a broad curriculum, a clear local identity, and a sixth form structured to support a range of routes after Year 11. The strongest evidence points to a calm and supportive environment, strong safeguarding culture, and enrichment that is unusually well specified in areas such as English, science, drama, and Duke of Edinburgh.

Best suited to families who want a comprehensive 11 to 18 school with organised co curricular opportunities and a realistic mix of university, apprenticeship, and employment progression. The main considerations are consistency of SEND support and ensuring the sixth form’s academic stretch matches the individual student.