Castle Mead Academy
Leicester, LE3 5QT · Leicester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 20 secondary schools in Leicester we can score, 21 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 8.0/10 against 388 of them, against 5.6/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.4 · 54 | 30% | 1.62 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.14 · 60 | 25% | 1.50 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.3 · 52 | 10% | 0.52 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Castle Mead Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 55.3% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.14 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in 2023.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award and CYCC hub. Sports include football, basketball, netball, table tennis, badminton, indoor athletics, athletics, and indoor cricket. Arts and music offer scholarships, drama enrichment, an orchestra, string group, and wind ensemble. Trips have included Hamilton, Ocean at the end of the lane, and Noughts and Crosses.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,223 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the named
What Ofsted said about Castle Mead Academy
Overview
Castle Mead Academy is described as an “exceptional school” with an “aspirational and visionary” ethos. The report highlights a “can-do” culture where pupils take a “full and active part in school life” and follow the ‘Castle Credo’ of kindness, hard work, and character building.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “meticulously planned, carefully sequenced and successfully implemented,” with a “relentless focus” on achieving the best outcomes.
- Pupils’ behaviour is “exemplary,” creating a “consistently calm learning environment” with “no lost learning time.”
- Teachers are “experts in the subjects that they teach” and use assessment effectively to address knowledge gaps.
- There are “wide ranging” enrichment opportunities, including scholarships and ‘enrichment electives,’ which disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND “speak highly of.”
- Staff support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively, enabling them to “achieve exceptionally well.”
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 47.0 |
| 2024/25 | 48.0 |
| 2025/26 | 46.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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