North Leamington School
98%
Capacity
1,475
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About North Leamington School
North Leamington School has been rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection, and the school’s academic performance is well above the local average. The most telling metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.47, which places it in the top 25% of schools nationally and ranks it second out of six schools in the Warwick local authority area. This score means that, on average, pupils at North Leamington achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points across England. In the West Midlands region, the school sits 47th out of 371 schools, comfortably in the top 13%. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 53.6 and a strong basics measure of 77.7% for grade 4 or above in English and maths further underline solid academic foundations. Ofsted’s ungraded inspection in March 2025 confirmed that standards are being maintained, with leadership and management also judged Good.
At Key Stage 5, the sixth form performs above average, with a value-added score of 0.34 and an average points per entry of 38.37, equivalent to a B grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B grade as well, and 22% of entries achieved AAB or higher. The school’s Progress 8 banding is officially ‘Above average’, and its progress in open subjects is particularly strong at 0.81. In English and maths, progress is positive but more modest, at 0.39 and 0.23 respectively. The EBacc entry rate sits at 32.6%, with 25.8% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Compared to the Warwickshire local authority average Progress 8 score of 0.02, North Leamington’s 0.47 is a significant outperformance. The school also ranks eighth out of 42 similar schools across the entire local authority, placing it well within the top tier.
North Leamington is a large, mixed secondary school with 1,475 pupils and a sixth form, operating close to its capacity of 1,500. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 651 applications for 230 places, with 213 first-preference offers made from 297 first-preference applications — an oversubscription ratio of 2.83. The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, art studios, and a sixth form centre. Clubs and activities include Orchestra, Drama, Duke of Edinburgh, Coding, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. SEND provisions cover a wide spectrum, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Parent feedback is strong: 92% would recommend the school, and 86% agree or strongly agree that their child is happy. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress, a well-resourced environment, and a popular, oversubscribed option in the Warwick area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Sandy Lane, Leamington Spa, Warwick, CV32 6RD |
| Headteacher | Mike Lowdell |
| Local Authority | Warwickshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,475 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,475 / 1,500 (98% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (5 Mar 2025): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.47)
537th of 3,141
Nationally
47th of 371
In West Midlands
2nd of 6
In Warwick
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
42.8
'22/23
40.2
'23/24
38.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2347%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 234 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)47%
- FE college41%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained2%
97% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2374%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 135 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
35%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)74%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained5%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology33
- Mathematics28
- Business Studies:Single27
- Biology25
- Sociology23
- History20
- Physics20
- Chemistry19
- English Literature14
- Geography12
- Media/Film/Tv Studies12
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
125 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed230
651
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
297 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.7%
- Asian9.1%
- White (other)8.1%
- Mixed7.6%
- Black0.2%
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.
5
Total schools
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About North Leamington 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
Sandy Lane, Leamington Spa
Warwick, CV32 6RD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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