Lea Manor High School
83%
Capacity
994
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Lea Manor High School
Lea Manor High School in Luton is a mixed state secondary for 11 to 16 year olds that currently serves 994 pupils against a capacity of 1,200, meaning it has room to grow. The school's intake reflects a high level of disadvantage: 41.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Despite this, demand is strong — for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 265 applications for 168 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.58 applicants per place. Of those, 107 were first-preference offers, matching the number of first-preference applications exactly, which suggests that while many families want a place, the school is a realistic first choice for a significant number. The headteacher is Jessantha Pather, and the school has no religious character.
Academically, the picture is challenging. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in 2021, the school was rated Inadequate overall, with the same rating for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. Personal development was rated Requires improvement. This was a downgrade from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was rated Requires improvement. Exam results from 2023/24 show a Progress 8 score of -0.98, which is well below average and ranks Lea Manor 11th out of 11 secondary schools in Luton. The Attainment 8 score is 34.4, and only 26.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 2.98, with just 1.3% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.03.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, and playing fields, plus clubs such as film club, orchestra, and Model UN. It has a broad set of SEND provisions covering specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. In the most recent Parent View survey, 80% of respondents said they would recommend the school, and 85% agreed or strongly agreed that their child feels safe. However, only 49% agreed or strongly agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 50% felt the school gives SEND children the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value its inclusive ethos and wide facilities, but who are aware of the significant academic challenges and the need for ongoing improvement.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Northwell Drive, Luton, Luton, LU3 3TL |
| Headteacher | Jessantha Pather |
| Local Authority | Luton |
| Number of Pupils | 994 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 41.3% |
| School Capacity | 994 / 1,200 (83% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Jun 2021Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Source: Ofsted, 6 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.98)
3006th of 3,141
Nationally
340th of 350
In East of England
11th of 11
In Luton
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.
Ofsted Parent View
93 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
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed168
265
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
107 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Breakfast club
07:30-08:10
Source: leamanorhighschool.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% 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.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian42.5%
- White British20.5%
- White (other)9.5%
- Mixed9.3%
- Black0.9%
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.
8
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
5
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 Lea Manor 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
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
Northwell Drive, Luton
Luton, LU3 3TL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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