Orchard Mead Academy
About Orchard Mead Academy
If you're a parent considering Orchard Mead Academy, the first thing you'll notice is that it's a popular choice locally. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 250 applications for 203 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.23. That means for every place available, just over one family applied, and 150 of those applicants listed it as their first preference. It's a sign that the school holds a solid reputation among families in Leicester, even if it isn't the most oversubscribed secondary in the area. The school is a mixed, non-religious state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It's led by headteacher Subrina Johal and currently has 1,045 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,200, so there is some room to grow. A significant proportion of pupils — 37.8 per cent — are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and gives you a sense of the community it serves.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Feb 2022Source: Ofsted, 28 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Breakfast club
07:45-08:20
Source: orchard-tmet.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Orchard Mead Academy
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications