St Paul's Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Leicester, LE5 6HN · Leicester · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th 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 the 886 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 5.3/10 among them, against 6.0/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 43.4 · 46 | 30% | 1.37 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.3 · 73 | 25% | 1.82 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.8 · 69 | 10% | 0.69 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Paul's Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 57.4% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 54.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.3 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (7.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.7 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2023.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,167 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,142. 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
With the last inspection in 2023, what specific improvements have been made to the curriculum since then? How does the school support pupils in raising their Progress 8 scores further?
What Ofsted said about St Paul's Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Overview
St Paul’s Catholic School continues to be a good school, characterised by a “strong family atmosphere” where pupils feel “happy and safe.” Leaders provide a “high-quality education” through an “ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum” that supports pupils’ spiritual and moral development. The school maintains high expectations, resulting in pupils who are “polite and well-mannered” and achieve well academically.
Strengths
- Staff care deeply about pupils’ well-being, ensuring everyone has “trusted adults they can turn to when they need help.”
- The curriculum is designed to meet diverse needs, with subject plans identifying “precise knowledge pupils need to learn at each stage” to build understanding logically.
- There is a “whole-school approach to reading,” including daily form-time sessions, which helps pupils who struggle to read fluently.
- Leaders are “highly effective at identifying priorities and taking action to improve the school,” leading with integrity and ensuring manageable staff workloads.
- Teaching is “particularly effective in the sixth form,” and the careers programme helps students make “good choices” about their future pathways.
Areas to improve
- A minority of teachers do not use the school’s assessment approach consistently, meaning some pupils’ misconceptions are not addressed quickly enough.
- The range of extra-curricular options is “relatively narrow,” limiting opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interests.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff receiving up-to-date training and working closely with other agencies to ensure pupils receive help quickly.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.0 |
| 2024/25 | 54.5 |
| 2025/26 | 49.8 |
| 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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