SchoolScoresSacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of ST THOMAS AQUINAS CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Mere Close, Off Mere Road, Leicester, LE5 3HH
0116 262 4418 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 January 2026 , published 11 February 2026.
In short: 2 strong, 5 expected, 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| 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. | Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
56 pupils in this year group.
66% — 6 points above the Leicester average, and 4 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 66% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 79% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 82% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 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 primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 23 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 23 |
| Of those, offered a place | 23 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 31 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Leicester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 52nd highest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.7% | 27.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 22nd highest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 75% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 2.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 10th highest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.0% | 13.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 28th highest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 97% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 74.2% | 58.8%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 132nd lowest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Lower than 18% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 129th lowest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Lower than 16% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.4% | 15.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 62nd lowest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 1.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 66th lowest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 16th highest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 88% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.4 | 21.3 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 108th highest of 153 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 85th highest of 144 state primary schools in Leicester. Higher than 36% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 9.0% | 12.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary 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 primary schools
- Bridge Junior School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Green Lane Infant School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Shenton Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), confirmed 2020 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Charnwood Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Darul Madinah Leicester Ltd 0.4 miles · Independent · Ofsted: No graded inspection
- Spinney Hill Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highfields Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Uplands Infant School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- St Barnabas CofE Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 strong, 5 expected, and safeguarding was met.
How did Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 66% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 23 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 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 138081.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.