Orchard Mead Academy
Leicester, LE5 1RT · Leicester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
19th 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 — 2.6/10 against 487 of them, against 1.7/10 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 | 14 | 35% | 0.49 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.7 · 22 | 30% | 0.66 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.69 · 9 | 25% | 0.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.4 · 22 | 10% | 0.22 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Orchard Mead Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 35.3% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.69 in 2023/24, indicating pupils made less progress than those nationally starting from the same point. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (3.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in June 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Charity Committee Club. The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,007 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 support is available for students who need to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the breakfast and after-school clubs structured to support student wellbeing?
What Ofsted said about Orchard Mead Academy
Overview
Orchard Mead Academy is described as a “highly inclusive and supportive community” where pupils feel “safe, valued and well cared for.” While safeguarding standards are met and inclusion is rated at a “strong standard,” other key areas including attendance, behaviour, curriculum, teaching, leadership, personal development, and achievement are judged to be at an “expected standard” or “needs attention.” The report highlights that while improvements are evident, they are “not yet secure” or consistent across the school.
Strengths
- Inclusion is a “strong standard,” with a “cohesive and ambitious approach” ensuring pupils’ needs are identified early and addressed effectively.
- Safeguarding standards are met, with an “open culture” where concerns are “actively identified, acted upon and managed.”
- Pastoral support is a strength, featuring a “trauma-informed approach” that helps pupils feel “supported and included.”
- Pupils report strong, trusting relationships with staff and a “strong sense of belonging” within the diverse community.
- Careers education is “well considered and effective” in supporting pupils to make informed decisions about their next steps.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure teaching quality is consistent so all pupils develop a “secure understanding” and become “increasingly independent.”
- Improvements in achievement must be accelerated to resolve learning gaps and bring outcomes in line with national averages.
- Attendance, particularly persistent absence, must rise more rapidly to align with national figures.
Safeguarding
The report states that “safeguarding standards are met,” meaning leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and pupils are made safer.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 37.0 |
| 2024/25 | 38.9 |
| 2025/26 | 40.4 |
| 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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