Knighton Mead Primary Academy

About Knighton Mead Primary Academy

Knighton Mead Primary Academy is a state primary in Leicester that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local demand. The school received 78 applications for just 30 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, with 40 of those being first-preference choices, meaning 30 families were offered their top pick. The oversubscription ratio stands at 2.6 applicants per place. This demand exists despite the school operating well above its official capacity — it currently has 233 pupils against a capacity of 189. The pupil body is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage: 47.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is considerably higher than the national average and reflects the school's role in a community with significant socioeconomic need. The school is mixed, non-denominational, and caters for children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision available.

Academically, Knighton Mead's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2025 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management and early years provision also judged Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2016, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 50% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Leicester local authority average of 62%. However, individual subject results were stronger: 80% met the expected standard in reading, 73% in maths, and 63% in writing. The average scaled scores were 104 in reading and 102 in maths. At the higher standard, 23% achieved in reading and 7% in maths, though only 3% did so in writing. Nationally, the school ranks in the bottom 50% for its combined KS2 score, sitting at the 79th percentile.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, forest school, gymnasium, sensory room, playing fields, sports hall, ICT suite and a chapel. Sports on offer include gymnastics, rounders, athletics and dance, while clubs cover drama, choir and gardening. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. Parent views, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, were overwhelmingly positive: 88% of respondents would recommend the school, and 89% strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. This is a school that suits families looking for a well-subscribed local primary with strong pastoral care and a clear improvement trajectory, though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to compare results with nearby schools like Whitehall Primary or Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy.

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