Leicester College
N/A
Capacity
N/A
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Leicester College
Leicester College is a state secondary for students aged 16 to 99, serving the city of Leicester with a mixed intake. The school has a capacity of 1,308 places, and its pupil population includes 15.4% eligible for free school meals, a figure that sits below the national average for secondary schools. Demand for places is notably high: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 482 applications for 216 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.23. Of those applicants, 217 listed Leicester College as their first preference, and 212 first-preference offers were made, suggesting that most families who want a place here are successful if they apply early. The school is non-denominational and has no religious character, and it operates a dedicated sixth form centre for post-16 students. Its headteacher is Shabir Ismail, who leads a school that has seen a clear improvement trajectory in its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Academically, Leicester College performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.58 is significantly higher than the Leicester local authority average of 0.12, placing it 4th out of 20 secondary schools in the area and in the top 25% nationally. The school’s Attainment 8 score stands at 54.1, and 76.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 57.8%, with 37.6% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This represents a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2011, when it was rated Requires Improvement. At sixth form, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.34, placing progress in the below average band, with an average A-level grade of C and points per entry of 31.39.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a sports hall, swimming pool, theatre, art studios, music rooms, and an astro turf pitch. Sports on offer include gymnastics, rowing, swimming, rugby, and tennis, while clubs range from science and coding to debate, Model UN, and film. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering this school, the strong Progress 8 outcomes and high demand signal a popular choice for academic progression, though the sixth form value-added scores suggest that post-16 support may be an area to investigate further. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Castle Mead Academy, 1.8 km away, which may be worth comparing for families prioritising that rating.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 16 to 99 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Welford Road, Leicester, Leicester, LE2 7LW |
| Headteacher | Shabir Ismail |
| Local Authority | Leicester |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,308 |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Sept 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (15 Sept 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 30 Apr 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.58)
402nd of 3,141
Nationally
20th of 273
In East Midlands
4th of 20
In Leicester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.0
'22/23
37.8
'23/24
31.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2375%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 93 pupils).
- University (HE)75%
- Employment11%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education2%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed216
482
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
217 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
2024/25Half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British56.6%
- Asian16.5%
- White (other)10.4%
- Mixed6.7%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/25Half 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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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
10
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 Leicester College
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
Welford Road, Leicester
Leicester, LE2 7LW
Welford Road, Leicester
Leicester, LE2 7LW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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