Lealands High School
98%
Capacity
1,026
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Lealands High School
Lealands High School sits just below the Luton local authority average for Progress 8, with a score of -0.04 compared to the LA average of 0.03. That places it 7th out of 11 secondary schools in Luton, putting it squarely in the middle of the pack. What’s more interesting is the variation within those results: pupils’ progress in English is a strong positive at +0.37, well above the local norm, while maths drags the other way at -0.21. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 43.4 and its EBacc average point score of 3.79 are both respectable for a non-selective state school, and 66.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. Nationally, Lealands ranks in the 51st percentile for Progress 8, meaning it performs almost exactly in line with the average school across England.
Ofsted inspectors visited in May 2023 and rated the school Good across every category — overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. That’s a consistent set of Good grades, and it matches the school’s previous inspection in 2013, which also awarded Good overall. The Progress 8 banding is officially classed as ‘Average’, which aligns with the inspection judgement. Around a quarter of pupils (25.3%) entered the EBacc suite of qualifications, and 14.1% achieved a strong pass (grade 5 or above) in it. The school has no sixth form, so all pupils leave at 16. With 34.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, Lealands serves a community with above-average disadvantage, and its results suggest it holds its own against that backdrop.
The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 385 applications for 198 places, with 173 first-preference offers made from 175 first-preference applications — a ratio of nearly two applicants per place. Facilities include a sports hall, gymnasium, astro turf, tennis courts, and a library, and the extracurricular offering covers book club, Model UN, orchestra, chess, coding, and a newspaper club. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a solid, well-run comprehensive that suits families looking for a mainstream secondary with consistent Ofsted grades, a strong English department, and a wide range of support for additional needs.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Sundon Park Road, Luton, Luton, LU3 3AL |
| Headteacher | John Burridge |
| Local Authority | Luton |
| Number of Pupils | 1,026 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 34.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,026 / 1,050 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 May 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jun 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.04)
1618th of 3,141
Nationally
182nd of 350
In East of England
7th of 11
In Luton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
2022/238%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 200 pupils).
- FE college42%
- Sixth form college40%
- School sixth form (stay)8%
- Not sustained5%
- Employment4%
- Apprenticeship1%
95% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed198
385
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
175 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
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British30.0%
- Asian20.6%
- Mixed14.1%
- White (other)10.6%
- Black0.7%
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.
Half 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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
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 Lealands 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
Sundon Park Road, Luton
Luton, LU3 3AL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Lealands High School!
Write a Review