Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
N/A
Capacity
919
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School sits within the Leeds local authority, one of 50 state secondary schools in the area. Among its local peers, the school is ranked behind The Ruth Gorse Academy, Allerton High School, and Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, which occupy the top three spots in the LA. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Carr Manor Community School, just 0.7 kilometres away. Cardinal Heenan itself holds a Good rating, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement judgement in 2013. In its most recent graded inspection in 2014, inspectors rated both overall effectiveness and leadership and management as Good, and an ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The school is a Roman Catholic secondary for mixed pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Dominic Kelly. It currently has 919 pupils on roll.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted report does not provide a specific Progress 8 score, but the Leeds LA average Progress 8 is 0.07, which is slightly above the national average of zero. Without a school-level Progress 8 figure, parents may want to look at the school's own published performance data for a clearer picture. The previous inspection in 2013 found the school required improvement overall, but the 2014 graded inspection upgraded it to Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. The 2023 ungraded inspection confirmed no decline in standards. The school does not offer sixth form provision, so pupils typically move on to other institutions after Year 11. For families prioritising Catholic education within the Leeds area, Cardinal Heenan is one of several faith-based options, alongside Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, which ranks higher locally.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, sports hall, tennis courts, and dedicated art and music rooms. Sports on offer include gymnastics, cricket, netball, and swimming, while extracurricular clubs cover gardening, book club, eco club, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. There is no mention of specific SEND provisions in the data, so parents with children who have additional needs should contact the school directly to discuss support. The school is likely to suit families seeking a Catholic secondary with strong facilities and a Good Ofsted rating, particularly those who do not require a sixth form. Given its position in the LA rankings, it may be less oversubscribed than the top three peers, though admission arrangements should be checked with the school or LA for current demand and catchment details.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Tongue Lane, Leeds, Leeds, LS6 4QE |
| Headteacher | Dominic Kelly |
| Local Authority | Leeds |
| Number of Pupils | 919 |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (8 Feb 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 26 Jun 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
12
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
Tongue Lane, Leeds
Leeds, LS6 4QE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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