Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 137 schools across Leicester. Updated with 2025–26 data.
Leicester has 137 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 125 with a published Ofsted inspection, 17 (14%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 89% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Parks Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.
Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Leicester follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.
Frequently asked questions
How many primary & secondary schools are there in Leicester?
There are 137 open primary & secondary schools in Leicester (closed schools are excluded). 17 of the 125 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Leicester?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Leicester is Parks Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Leicester?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Leicester?
Primary and secondary applications in Leicester are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Leicester council website for local forms and any in-year rules.
What is the top-ranked primary school in Leicester?
On the Schools Near Me score, the highest-ranked open primary school in Leicester is Parks Primary School. The "Top primary schools in Leicester" list on this page shows the leading 8 primary schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade (pre-Nov-2025). Closed schools are never included.
What is the top-ranked secondary school in Leicester?
On the Schools Near Me score, the highest-ranked open secondary school in Leicester is Madani Girls' School. See the "Top secondary schools in Leicester" list on this page for the leading 8 secondary schools, each with its score and last historic single-word Ofsted grade (from before Ofsted retired single-word grades on 10 November 2025).
Is Leicester a good place to find a school?
Leicester is one of England's largest urban authorities, with 137 open primary & secondary schools to choose from, 17 of them holding a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before those grades were retired on 10 November 2025). Because choice is wide, compare schools on the ranked tables above and open any school for catchment areas, results trends and more. See how we score schools: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.