Best Secondary Schools in Leicester 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 19 schools across Leicester. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Leicester has 19 open secondary schools. Of the 19 with a published Ofsted inspection, 5 (26%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 95% 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, Brook Mead Academy 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.

19
Total schools
5
Outstanding (historic grade)
26%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
61.1%
Avg KS2 SATs
46.3
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Brook Mead Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 The Herewoode Academy
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
🥉 Madani Girls' School
Secondary
 Good 79 View school
4. Rushey Mead Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 74 View school
5. St Paul's Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 71 View school
6. English Martyrs' Catholic School, A Voluntary Academy
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
7. Castle Mead Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 70 View school
8. Madani Boys School
Secondary
 Good 68 View school
9. Judgemeadow Community College
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
10. Moat Community College
Secondary
 Good 58 View school
11. The City of Leicester College
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 54 View school
12. Sir Jonathan North Girls' College
Secondary
 Outstanding 53 View school
13. Soar Valley College
Secondary
 Outstanding 52 View school
14. Fullhurst Community College
Secondary
 Good 51 View school
15. Orchard Mead Academy
Secondary
 Good 51 View school
16. Babington Academy
Secondary
 Good 50 View school
17. Lancaster Academy
Secondary
 Good 49 View school
18. Crown Hills Community College
Secondary
 Good 47 View school
19. Beaumont Leys School
Secondary
 Good 44 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Leicester

Best primary schools in LeicesterTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in LeicesterTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in LeicesterPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in LeicesterReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in LeicestershireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in RutlandCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in CoventryCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in NottinghamCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Leicester

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Leicester?
There are 19 open secondary schools in Leicester (closed schools are excluded). 5 of the 19 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 secondary schools in Leicester?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Leicester is Brook Mead Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 19 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.

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.