North Mead Primary Academy
133%
Capacity
441
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About North Mead Primary Academy
North Mead Primary Academy in Leicester stands out sharply against the local authority average for primary schools. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 83% of its pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Leicester LA average of just 62%. That 21-point gap is significant, and it places the school 5th out of 68 primary schools in the city, comfortably inside the top 10% nationally. The school also performs well at the higher standard: 32% of pupils achieved greater depth across all three subjects, while 68% hit the higher bar in reading alone. These are strong figures for a state primary where 40% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, suggesting the school is adding real value for its intake.
The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2018, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. A subsequent ungraded inspection in January 2024 confirmed the school remains Good and is improving. This is a notable turnaround from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Inadequate. The Progress 8 measure is not available for this school, but the raw attainment scores are solid: an average reading score of 110 and an average maths score of 106, both above the national benchmark of 100. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, and the improvement trajectory is clear.
North Mead is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 51 applications for 42 places, with 41 of those coming as first preferences. The school has a nursery provision and caters for children from age 3 to 11. Facilities include playing fields, a forest school, a sensory room, and music rooms, and the school offers a range of sports including swimming, tennis and gymnastics. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, speech and language issues, and physical or sensory impairments. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic outcomes in a diverse, inner-city context, particularly those who value the forest school and sensory room alongside traditional classroom learning.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Northfield Road, Leicester, Leicester, LE4 9DL |
| Headteacher | Ben Burpitt |
| Local Authority | Leicester |
| Number of Pupils | 441 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.0% |
| School Capacity | 441 / 332 (133% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
25 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (25 Jan 2024): School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Sept 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (83%)
949th of 13,686
Nationally
80th of 1,353
In East Midlands
5th of 68
In Leicester
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
83%
Expected Standard
32%
Higher Standard
'22/23
85%
'23/24
83%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed42
51
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
41 families put this school as their 1st choice (80% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
- Asian64.2%
- White (other)11.6%
- White British7.7%
- Mixed3.2%
- Black1.8%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
20
Total schools
16
Oversubscribed
17
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 North Mead Primary Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Northfield Road, Leicester
Leicester, LE4 9DL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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