Castle Mead Academy, Leicester

In its own words: "We believe in subject autonomy We believe in giving our scholars roots and wings We believe that we are humans first, professionals/learners second We want to make sure that every single member of our school community - scholars, staff, families and visitors - feel a sense of belonging and connection to our school."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Castle Mead Academy is characterised by high expectations, doing the simple things well, and the belief that all children can succeed. Situated in the heart of historic Leicester, we are driven by a moral commitment to ‘grow a community of excellence’ for the benefit of all children in the city."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, athletics, basketball, badminton, dance, drama and orchestra.

In 2026, pupils at Castle Mead Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 47.1 in Leicester and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in Leicester and 47% in England.

That is down from 48 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.14: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 38.3, against 51.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, French and Combined Science.

For September 2026 entry, 278 families put Castle Mead Academy as their first choice and 638 named it as one of their preferences, for 250 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 53 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Castle Mead Academy are Brook Mead Academy (0.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 46.6); Moat Community College (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.9); Fullhurst Community College (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39); and English Martyrs' Catholic School, A Voluntary Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.4).

Castle Mead Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Castle Mead Academy is one of 16 schools run by The Mead Educational Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47 in 2024/25.

Of the 240 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

47.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 51.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (23%), Asian (21%) and Black (18%).

The nearest railway station is Leicester Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tudor Road (adjacent), 310 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castle Mead Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1614 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leicester (382), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Castle Mead Academy issued 548 suspensions, 44.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Castle Mead Academy are King Richard III Infant and Nursery School (0.3 miles), Slater Primary School (0.4 miles), Fosse Mead Primary Academy (0.5 miles) and Shaftesbury Junior School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.