Highfield Leadership Academy
57%
Capacity
681
Pupils
1.5x
Demand
About Highfield Leadership Academy
Parent feedback for Highfield Leadership Academy is notably positive in several areas, with 75% of respondents to the Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. The survey, which ran between September 2024 and September 2025 and gathered 16 responses, shows particularly strong feelings about pupil happiness and achievement: 94% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy at the school, and the same proportion agreed that their child does well. Feelings on safety are similarly high, with 94% agreeing their child feels safe. However, the picture is more mixed on behaviour and bullying. While 76% agreed the school ensures pupils are well behaved, 26% disagreed. On bullying, only 19% agreed it is dealt with quickly and effectively, though 50% said the question was not applicable. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 304 applications for 206 places, giving a ratio of 1.48 applicants per place, with 137 first-preference offers made.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 rated its overall effectiveness as Requires Improvement, a downgrade from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2021, with behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management both dropping from Good to Requires Improvement. Personal development remains a bright spot, rated Good. In the 2023/24 exam results, the school's Progress 8 score was -0.96, which is classified as well below average nationally and places it 5th out of 9 schools in Blackpool. This is just above the local authority average of -0.98. The Attainment 8 score was 34.4, and 30.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score was 3.11, with 43% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects.
Highfield Leadership Academy is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It currently has 681 pupils against a capacity of 1,200, so there is room for growth. The school serves a community with high levels of disadvantage, with 53% of pupils eligible for free school meals. Facilities include art studios, a swimming pool, tennis courts, playing fields, a sports hall, music rooms, a theatre and a chapel. The school offers a wide range of clubs, including Science Club, Drama, Coding, Eco Club, Chess, Book Club and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. SEND support covers eight areas, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language and Communication needs, and Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. This school may suit families who value strong personal development and a broad range of extracurricular opportunities, but who are aware that academic outcomes and behaviour management are areas the school is actively working to improve.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Highfield Road, Blackpool, Blackpool, FY4 3JZ |
| Headteacher | Kim Greenwood |
| Local Authority | Blackpool |
| Number of Pupils | 681 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 53.0% |
| School Capacity | 681 / 1,200 (57% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 7 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.96)
3000th of 3,141
Nationally
412th of 445
In North West
5th of 9
In Blackpool
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/231%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 189 pupils).
- FE college46%
- Sixth form college28%
- Not sustained12%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
- School sixth form (stay)1%
88% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
16 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed206
304
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
137 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British80.2%
- Asian6.6%
- Mixed4.5%
- White (other)3.8%
- Black0.1%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
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.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
12
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 Highfield Leadership Academy
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
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Highfield Road, Blackpool
Blackpool, FY4 3JZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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