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OpenSecondaryOfsted: OutstandingURN 147068

Castle Mead Academy

Free schools · Leicester · LE3 5QT

Ages 11–16 · 1,223 pupils · Leicester

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Attainment 8

47.0

Overall absence

8.8%

Admissions demand

1.42 · Competitive

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

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Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2023-10-24

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.14
−20+2
Attainment 847.0
English & maths grade 5+50%
English & maths grade 4+70%
EBacc entry81%

EBacc APS: 4.5

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence8.8%
Persistent absence (10%+)22.2%
Unauthorised5.5%
Authorised absence
3.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.7%
Enrolments in measure
1,295

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.42 · Competitive

1st preferences

354

Places offered

250

1st-preference offers

240

Total preferences (any rank)
668
Preferred offers (top 3)
250
Applications from outside LA
30
Offers to outside-LA applicants
4
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill102%

1,223 pupils · 1,200 places

Pupils on roll
1,223
Boys / girls
601 / 622
School capacity
1,200
Capacity fill
1,223 / 1,200 (102%)
Free school meals
47.8%
FSM pupils
584
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Free schools

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: THE MEAD EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Academy trust
THE MEAD EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Sponsor
The Mead Educational Trust
Headteacher
Miss Chloe French

Location

Address
Richard III Road
Postcode
LE3 5QT
Town
Leicester
Local authority
Leicester
District
Leicester
Constituency
Leicester West
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Leicester, Leicester, 1,223 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 47.8%.

Open schools in Leicester
229
Secondary schools in Leicester
33
Academies among open schools in Leicester
56% (128)
Open schools in LE3
35
Secondary in LE3
5
Open schools in Leicester LA
142
Secondary in Leicester LA
19

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in LeicesterNear LE3

  • Brook Mead Academy

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Free schools · Secondary

    Leicester · LE3 9BN · Leicester

    Ages 11–16

    • Absence6.7%
    • FSM29.3%
    • Demand0.63

    0.7 miles away

  • Moat Community College

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Secondary

    Leicester · LE2 0TU · Leicester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att847.0
    • P80.2
    • EM5+46%
    • Absence9.3%

    1.1 miles away

  • Fullhurst Community College

    Ofsted: Good

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Leicester · LE3 1AH · Leicester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att842.2
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.1 miles away

  • Beaumont Leys School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Secondary

    Leicester · LE4 0FL · Leicester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att844.6
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+37%
    • Absence8.9%

    1.4 miles away

  • The Herewoode Academy

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Leicester · LE3 6DN · Leicester

    Ages 11–18

    • FSM53.4%

    1.5 miles away

  • Babington Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Leicester · LE4 0SZ · Leicester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att833.9
    • P8-0.8
    • EM5+23%
    • Absence11.4%

    1.8 miles away

  • Madani Girls' School

    Ofsted: Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Leicester · LE5 5LL · Leicester

    Ages 11–16

    • Att861.2
    • P81.1
    • EM5+75%
    • Absence4.7%

    2.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Miss Chloe French
Telephone
01162143150
Website
https://www.castle-tmet.uk/

Official links