Sir Jonathan North Girls' College
96%
Capacity
1,149
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Sir Jonathan North Girls' College
Sir Jonathan North Girls' College is a girls' secondary school in Leicester that is currently operating close to capacity, with 1,149 pupils on roll against a school capacity of 1,200. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 28.9%, which is notably higher than the national average of around 23% and reflects the school's inner-city intake. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 281 applications for 205 places, making it officially oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.37 applicants per place. Of those, 154 families listed it as their first preference, and 153 first-preference offers were made. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, and it does not have a religious character. Headteacher James McKenna leads a school that has held an Outstanding Ofsted rating since its most recent graded inspection in January 2025, with Outstanding grades across all four assessed categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.51 is significantly higher than the Leicester local authority average of 0.12, placing it 5th out of 20 schools in the LA and in the top 25% nationally. The Attainment 8 score of 52.8 is solid, and 72% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, compared with 56.4% at the stronger grade 5 threshold. The English Baccalaureate entry rate is high at 88.9%, with 56% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Subject-level Progress 8 scores show particular strength in English (0.78) and EBacc subjects (0.67), while maths progress is more modest at 0.19. The school's EBacc average point score of 5.16 reflects a curriculum that prioritises academic breadth. In the East Midlands region, the school ranks 23rd out of 273 schools for Progress 8, placing it in the top 9% regionally.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sports hall, alongside art studios and an ICT suite. Sports provision covers ten activities from hockey to martial arts, and there are ten clubs including debate, Model UN, orchestra, and eco club. SEND support is comprehensive, covering nine areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Parent View responses from 273 families are overwhelmingly positive: 91% would recommend the school, and 97% agree or strongly agree that their child does well there. The school is best suited to families seeking a high-performing, academically focused girls' school in Leicester that is oversubscribed and selective by proximity rather than ability. With no sixth form, parents will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Knighton Lane East, Leicester, Leicester, LE2 6FU |
| Headteacher | James McKenna |
| Local Authority | Leicester |
| Number of Pupils | 1,149 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.9% |
| School Capacity | 1,149 / 1,200 (96% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 6 Feb 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.51)
488th of 3,141
Nationally
23rd of 273
In East Midlands
5th 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.
Ofsted Parent View
273 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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed205
281
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
154 families put this school as their 1st choice (55% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian41.3%
- White British26.2%
- Mixed9.5%
- White (other)6.6%
- Black1.9%
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.
75% 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.
12
Total schools
9
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 Sir Jonathan North Girls' 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
Knighton Lane East, Leicester
Leicester, LE2 6FU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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