Ivanhoe School

About Ivanhoe School

Ivanhoe School sits within the Leicestershire local authority, a mixed secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16. In the North West Leicestershire area specifically, it ranks fifth out of six schools by Progress 8 score, placing it in the bottom half of its immediate local peers. The top-performing schools nearby include The Market Bosworth School, Manor High School, and Saint Martin's Catholic Voluntary Academy, all of which post stronger academic outcomes. Across the wider Leicestershire authority, Ivanhoe ranks 29th out of 46 secondary schools of the same type. The school is led by headteacher Jennifer Steere and currently has 799 pupils on roll, against a capacity of 1,098. A quarter of its students are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025, the school was rated Good across all graded categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is consistent with its previous Good rating from 2014.

Academically, Ivanhoe's results are below the local average. Its Progress 8 score of -0.39 is significantly lower than the Leicestershire average of -0.1, and the school is banded as 'Below average' nationally. The Attainment 8 score stands at 40.6, and just 33.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 57.6% at the grade 4 threshold. The EBacc average point score is 3.73, with only 16.7% of pupils entering and achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. Progress in English is notably weaker than in maths: the English Progress 8 score is -0.5, while maths is -0.15. The EBacc entry rate is 30.3%, which is modest. Parent feedback from the Parent View survey, based on 172 responses between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 83% would recommend the school. Strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (87% combined strongly agree/agree) and feels safe (89%). However, only 63% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 55% agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, science labs, music rooms, tennis courts, and a sixth form centre, though it does not have a sixth form of its own. Sports on offer include football, rugby, swimming, and martial arts, while clubs range from Model UN and DofE to coding and chess. Ivanhoe has a dedicated SEND department covering eight areas of need, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication, and social, emotional and mental health. Admissions are oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 430 applications for 154 places, with 119 first-preference offers made. This works out at nearly three applicants per place. The school is best suited to families in the North West Leicestershire area who value a Good-rated school with a strong pastoral focus and wide extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable with academic results that sit below both the local and national averages.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ivanhoe School

Helpful Guides for Parents