SchoolScoresOrchard Mead Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of THE MEAD EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Keyham Lane West, Leicester, LE5 1RT
0116 241 3371 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 2 June 2026 , published 6 July 2026.
In short: 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
224 pupils in this year group.
35% — 8 points below the Leicester average, and 10 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 35% | 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. | 38.9 | 45.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.3 | 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.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
226 pupils in this year group.
85% — 4 points below the Leicester average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 85% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 4% | 18% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 47% | 38% | 13% |
| Further education college | 29% | 29% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 1% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 4% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 83% | 85% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 205 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 153 |
| Of those, offered a place | 153 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 250 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 40 places for speech, language and communication needs; Social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 7th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 39.6% | 30.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 11th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.4% | 2.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 56% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 14.4% | 12.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 14th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 89% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 44.6% | 53.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 31st lowest of 35 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 12% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 11.3% | 7.9%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 34th lowest of 35 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 10% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 34.0% | 22.1%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 35th lowest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 65.7 | 18.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 35th lowest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Lower than 4% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 19.5% | 7.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.19% | 0.10% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 25th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 54% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.0 | 17.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 28th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 29% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.9 | 11.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 9th highest of 36 state secondary schools in Leicester. Higher than 67% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 16.5% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Gateway Sixth Form College 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Not yet inspected · C average A level grade
- Avanti Fields School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Paul's Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 57% grade 5+ English and maths
- The City of Leicester College 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 52% grade 5+ English and maths
- Al-Aqsa Schools Trust 2.0 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2025)
- Judgemeadow Community College 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 37% grade 5+ English and maths
- The Imam Muhammad Adam Institute School 2.3 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- Crown Hills Community College 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 47% grade 5+ English and maths
- Soar Valley College 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- Jameah Boys Academy 2.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Orchard Mead Academy's Ofsted rating?
Orchard Mead Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 2 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Orchard Mead Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 35% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 10 points below the England average of 45%.
Is Orchard Mead Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 153 families put Orchard Mead Academy as their first choice for 205 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 153 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 144629.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.