Ashby School

About Ashby School

If you're a parent considering Ashby School, the numbers suggest it's a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 564 applications for 231 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.44. Of those, 272 families put it as their first preference, and 228 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand indicates a strong reputation among local families. While the school doesn't publish a parent-view survey score, the sheer volume of applications — more than double the places available — is a practical signal of confidence. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary with a sixth form, and it's the largest in North West Leicestershire by pupil numbers, with 1,679 students on roll against a capacity of 1,820. It's worth noting that 12.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is slightly below the national average.

Academically, Ashby School holds a Good rating from Ofsted, following its most recent inspection in January 2024. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Inadequate overall. In the 2024 inspection, every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision — was rated Good. At Key Stage 4, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.14, which is below the local authority average of -0.1, but still within the 'Average' banding nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 47.2, and 71.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 74.3%, though only 24.2% achieved a grade 5 or above across the EBacc subjects. In the sixth form, the average A-level grade is C+, with a points-per-entry score of 31.69, and the value-added score is -0.01, also rated Average.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including science labs, a sixth form centre, astro turf, playing fields, and music rooms. Sports on offer include hockey, football, rugby, and cricket, while clubs range from Debate and Orchestra to Gardening and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide spectrum, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Ashby School is not a boarding school and has no nursery provision, so it's purely for secondary-age students. Given its size and oversubscription, it's a school that suits families who want a large, comprehensive environment with a strong sixth form and a broad extracurricular offer. If you're in the North West Leicestershire area and your child is academically average or slightly below, the school's Progress 8 profile suggests it supports a wide range of abilities, though it doesn't push above the local average in terms of academic progress.

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