SchoolScoresCastle Mead Academy
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE MEAD EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Richard III Road, Leicester, LE3 5QT
0116 214 3150 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 24 October 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
115 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Leicester comparisons use the 22 of its 37 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 15 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 14th highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leicester. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 81% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school 15th highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leicester. Higher than 30% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 83% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 12th highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leicester. Higher than 56% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 76% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 45 parents whose child had been bullied 17th highest of 18 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leicester. Higher than 6% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 27% | 47% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 92 parents who had raised a concern Joint 13th highest of 21 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leicester. Higher than 33% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 63% | 69% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 12th highest of 22 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Leicester. Higher than 48% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79%said yes | 78% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Leicester figures pool parents at the Leicester schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
246 pupils in this year group.
55% — 12 points above the Leicester average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 55% | 43% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 48 | 45.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Leicester. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 250 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 278 |
| Of those, offered a place | 225 (81%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 638 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.4 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.1
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 3rd highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 83% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 45.2% | 30.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 13th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 43% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.7% | 2.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.2% | 12.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 15th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 44.2% | 53.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 26th lowest of 35 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 34% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.3% | 7.9%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 20th lowest of 35 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 53% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 23.0% | 22.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 31st lowest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 44.2 | 18.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 34th lowest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 11% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.6% | 7.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 13th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 87% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9 | 17.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 23rd highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 12th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 65% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 16.1% | 14.0%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- Brook Mead Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024)
- Beauchamp City Sixth Form 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · B average A level grade
- Moat Community College 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- Fullhurst Community College 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- English Martyrs' Catholic School, A Voluntary Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- Beaumont Leys School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Herewoode Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 28% grade 5+ English and maths
- Darul Uloom Leicester 1.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 0% A*/A at A level
- St Crispin's School 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Imam Muhammad Adam Institute Boys School 1.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Outstanding (2025)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Castle Mead Academy's Ofsted rating?
Castle Mead Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 October 2023.
How did Castle Mead Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 55% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Castle Mead Academy?
79% of the 115 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Castle Mead Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Castle Mead Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 278 families put Castle Mead Academy as their first choice for 250 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 225 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 147068.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.