Highfield Leadership Academy
Blackpool, FY4 3JZ · Blackpool · secondary school
Check the area around this school
6th of 8 secondary schools in Blackpool we can score. 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 — 2.6/10 against 225 of them, against 1.3/10 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 | 5 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.1 · 24 | 30% | 0.73 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.96 · 3 | 25% | 0.08 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 35.2 · 6 | 10% | 0.06 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Highfield Leadership Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 19.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 30.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.96 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.3 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Requires improvement in May 2024.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Open Gym club and play football, netball, badminton, rounders, or basketball. Trips include visits to Barcelona and the Grundy Art Gallery.
Getting in
The published school roll is 751 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
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific actions are being taken to improve the Progress 8 score? How does the Open Gym club integrate with the wider sports curriculum?
What Ofsted said about Highfield Leadership Academy
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils feel safe and supported, with a "calm atmosphere" and strong personal development opportunities. However, the quality of education is inconsistent, with variable curriculum delivery and assessment practices meaning "many pupils do not achieve as well as they should." Attendance has risen to concerning levels, and leadership evaluations have been "overgenerous," failing to address persistent weaknesses.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from an "ambitious curriculum" and extensive opportunities for leadership roles, such as "eco-champions" and "anti-bullying ambassadors."
- Staff are described as "proud to work at this school" and feel valued, with workload considered well.
- Personal development is rated Good, with a "comprehensive careers programme" and a secure understanding of diversity.
- Safeguarding arrangements are "effective," and pupils with special educational needs in key stage 3 are supported well.
Areas to improve
- Attendance rates have risen, with many pupils persistently absent; the school must review work with parents and agencies to raise attendance.
- Curriculum implementation is inconsistent; teachers need support to design learning that enables pupils to build "deep understanding" of subjects.
- Assessment strategies are not used effectively to identify and address gaps in knowledge, hindering pupil achievement.
- Key stage 4 pupils with reading difficulties do not receive sufficient support, preventing them from accessing the curriculum.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 34.4 |
| 2024/25 | 30.0 |
| 2025/26 | 35.2 |
| 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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