Catholic Schools / Leicestershire
Catholic Schools in Leicestershire
Find 23 Catholic schools in Leicestershire. Compare Ofsted ratings, Section 48 results, faith admissions criteria and catchment areas.
23 catholic schools in Leicestershire
Holy Cross Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
Holy Cross School A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Coalville · Primary · Mixed
Saint Clare's Primary School A Catholic Voluntary Academy, Coalville, Leicestershire
Coalville · Primary · Mixed
Saint Patrick's Catholic Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
St Thomas More Catholic Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
Bishop Ellis Catholic Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
Christ the King Catholic Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
De Lisle College Loughborough Leicestershire
Loughborough · Secondary · Mixed
English Martyrs' Catholic School, A Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Secondary · Mixed
Ratcliffe College
Ratcliffe on the Wreake · All-through · Mixed
Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
Sacred Heart Catholic Voluntary Academy
Loughborough · Primary · Mixed
Saint Francis Catholic Primary School
Melton Mowbray · Primary · Mixed
Saint John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, Wigston, Leicestershire
Wigston · Primary · Mixed
Saint Martin's Catholic Voluntary Academy
Nuneaton · Secondary · Mixed
Saint Mary's Catholic Primary School, Loughborough
Loughborough · Primary · Mixed
Saint Peter's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Hinckley · Primary · Mixed
Saint Peters Catholic Voluntary Academy
Earl Shilton · Primary · Mixed
Saint Winefride's Catholic Voluntary Academy, Shepshed, Leicestershire
Loughborough · Primary · Mixed
St Charles Catholic Primary Voluntary Academy
Swadlincote · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Academy
Leicester · Primary · Mixed
St Joseph's Catholic Voluntary Academy
Market Harborough · Primary · Mixed
St Paul's Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy
Leicester · Secondary · Mixed
About Catholic schools in Leicestershire
Catholic schools in Leicestershire are faith schools maintained by the local diocese and funded by the state as voluntary aided or academy schools, meaning they are free to attend. Most give priority to baptised Catholic children when places are oversubscribed, applying faith-based criteria - such as a baptism certificate, evidence of regular Mass attendance, and sometimes a parish priest's reference - before distance or sibling rules come into play. Admissions requirements vary school by school, so it is important to read each school's published policy and any supplementary information form carefully. Some Catholic schools in Leicestershire are not heavily oversubscribed and may admit children of other faiths or no faith without requiring faith evidence at all.
Catholic schools in Leicestershire cover primary and secondary phases, with some offering sixth-form provision. As well as the standard Ofsted inspection, each school is subject to a Section 48 (denominational) inspection commissioned by the diocese, which assesses the Catholic ethos, religious education and collective worship - worth reading alongside the Ofsted report. Many parents also weigh pastoral care, the school's links to the local parish and community feel, not just academic results. Ofsted ratings and progress data are a useful starting point, but visiting the school and attending an open day will give you the most rounded picture before you apply.
Choosing a school in Leicestershire
Whether or not Leicestershire has schools of a particular type, the same fundamentals help you compare your options. Ofsted judgements - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - summarise the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. A rating is a useful starting point, but bear in mind that some schools have not been inspected for several years and that a single word cannot capture everything about a school.
For secondary schools, Progress 8 is often more revealing than raw results. It measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, so a school serving a less advantaged community can still post strong progress. Attainment 8 shows average achievement across eight GCSEs, and the percentage of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and maths is a useful benchmark. For 16-18 study, look at A-Level and applied-course results and where students go next.
Beyond the data, look at how places are allocated when a school is oversubscribed and whether your address is likely to secure one, the range of subjects and activities on offer, the sixth-form provision if you are planning ahead, and travel and transport. Above all, visit. An open day tells you more about a school's atmosphere, pastoral care and whether it will suit your child than any league table can.
Frequently asked questions
How many catholic schools are there in Leicestershire?
There are 23 catholic schools in Leicestershire listed on School Signal, of which 5 are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
Which Catholic school in Leicestershire has the best Ofsted rating?
Holy Cross Catholic School, a Voluntary Academy is among the highest rated catholic schools in Leicestershire, judged Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
Do you have to be Catholic to get into a Catholic school in Leicestershire?
Not always. When a Catholic school in Leicestershire is oversubscribed, it will usually prioritise baptised Catholic children and apply faith criteria - such as a baptism certificate and evidence of regular Mass attendance - before admitting children of other faiths or none. Schools that are not oversubscribed may admit non-Catholic children without any faith requirement. Always check each school's admissions policy and supplementary information form, as the criteria vary between schools and dioceses.