The school opened in 1956 as Branston County Secondary Modern. By 1959 around 350 pupils were enrolled. The name was shortened to Branston County Secondary School in 1968, and to Branston School in 1970. The name was changed to Branston School and Community College in 1972, and later shortened to Branston Community College. The original school consisted of a central block of classrooms, which included a dining hallon the ground floor, and a gymnasium. Woodwork and metalwork workshops were built nearby, while sports changing rooms and greenhouses were at the back. The school for many years ran a house system based on royal houses, with allocated colours: Tudor, Lancaster, Windsor, Stuart, York and Hanover. This system has since ended. Classroom space expanded through increased pupil numbers. A new library and office accommodation block, sports complex, swimming pool, youth wing, sixth form unit, science and language block and house rooms have been added over the years.
Today
The school became a Business & Enterprise College in September 2002. In the 2005 school league table results for Lincolnshire, the school came 22nd out of 66 similar schools in the county for attainment at GCSE/GNVQ level, and 16th out of 36 for attainment at A level/AS level. In September 2007 it was rated an "outstanding school" category by Ofsted. Inspectors judged relationships between students and staff and student behaviour to be "outstanding". In December 2010 the school changed its name from Branston Community College to Branston Community Academy. Branston has previously held Business and Enterprise Specialist status and was one of the first 18 British schools designated as a Specialist Business and Enterprise College in September 2002. In 2003 the school became a DCSF Pathfinder Enterprise School, and in 2006 it was designated as the regional hub school for Enterprise. In 2005 the College set up a four-year partnership with Lincolnshire Cooperative and it has also been asked by the Specialist Schools Trust to take part in the research project, Capturing Transformation. According to the Lincolnshire County Council website:
The Library has extensive book, non-book and ICT resources, a large area for private study and contains the College-run Learndirect Centre. The College has invested heavily in broadband and wireless technology in addition to the several dedicated, networked ICT rooms.
Houses were abolished in the early 21st century and tutor groups were instead set by year groups. In December 2011, however, new house names were introduced: Lancaster, Vulcan, Spitfire and Hurricane.
