Classpot

The City of Leicester College

Leicester, LE5 6LNSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Nov 2019
Progress 8
+0.29
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
186 1st-choice / 244 places
Ranking
#863
of 3,141 nationally

About The City of Leicester College

The City of Leicester College is a large secondary school in Leicester, operating well above the national average for pupil deprivation. With 1,569 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,614, it is effectively full, and the demand for places is intense: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 510 total applications for 244 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.09. Of those, 186 were first-preference applications, all of which received offers. The school’s percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 34.7%, significantly higher than the national average of around 23% for secondary schools, reflecting the socio-economic profile of its intake. The school is non-denominational and co-educational, serving ages 11 through 19, with a dedicated sixth form. Headteacher Ken Vernon leads a school that, despite its popularity with local families, has been rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2019.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDowning Drive, Leicester, Leicester, LE5 6LN
HeadteacherKen Vernon
Local AuthorityLeicester
Number of Pupils1,569
Free School Meals (FSM)34.7%
School Capacity1,569 / 1,614 (97% full)
Sixth FormYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

26 Nov 2019
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 23 Jan 2020. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Art StudiosScience LabsDining HallSports HallICT SuiteMusic RoomsTheatreSixth Form CentrePlaying FieldsAstro TurfChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

NetballCricketSwimmingAthleticsGymnasticsHockeyBasketballDanceRugbyFootball

Clubs & Activities

Film ClubDramaArt ClubDebateModel United NationsChoirOrchestraDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:10

Source: cityleicester.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The City of Leicester College

The City of Leicester College has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.