Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Leeds
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has tackled teaching quality effectively, with nearly three-quarters of lessons now good or better. Year 11 pupils have noticed real benefits from targeted English support, which is boosting their confidence and skills. School leaders are working systematically to turn around previous weaknesses with clear plans and strong support from governors.
Key Strengths
- Teaching quality has improved, with 70% of lessons now judged good or better
- Clear focus on pupils' progress with targeted interventions, especially in English
- Strong leadership restructure with new systems to hold teachers accountable
- Effective use of assessment data to identify underachievement
- Good partnership with Prince Henry's Grammar School to validate improvements
Areas for Improvement
- Improvements are still at early stages and need consistency across the school
- Lesson observations need sharper focus on specific teaching aspects and support for disadvantaged pupils
- Interventions for Pupil Premium and pupils with learning difficulties need better coordination
- Marking and feedback policies need more consistent implementation by all teachers
- Assessment data systems need to provide more timely information
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School was judged to require improvement in February 2013. This monitoring inspection in May 2013 found that the school has made early progress in addressing weaknesses, particularly in teaching quality and pupil progress in English.
At a Glance
20.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
24.1
Avg class size
38
Total classes
6 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
916 pupils
900 capacity
16 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Leeds
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Leeds
Admissions Demand - Leeds
Places available
9,889
Applications
9,401
Got 1st preference
84.0%
Got preferred school
95.4%
Secondary admissions across Leeds (2025/26)
Inspection History(9)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.63931%
Overall absence
13.45533%
Persistent absence
929
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School
St Urban's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Manor Wood Primary School
Meanwood Church of England Primary School
Alwoodley Primary School
St Matthew's Church of England Primary School
Allerton CofE Primary School
St Paul's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Adel Primary School
Weetwood Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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