Desford Community Primary School, Leicester
Desford Community Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Leicester, part of Life Multi-Academy Trust. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 52nd-highest of the 138 schools in Leicester with published results, and 5,775th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Leicestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Desford Community Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Desford Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Leicestershire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (86% in reading, 77% in maths).
Getting a place at Desford Community Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 43 families put Desford Community Primary School as their first choice and 105 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Desford Community Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Desford Community Primary School are Newbold Verdon Primary School (2 miles, Good, 49% reading, 34% maths); Kirby Muxloe Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 90% reading, 90% maths); Thurlaston Church of England Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 86% reading, 71% maths); and Ratby Primary School (2.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 72% maths).
Desford Community Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Newbold Verdon Primary SchoolKirby Muxloe Primary SchoolThurlaston Church of England Primary SchoolRatby Primary School
The trust
Desford Community Primary School is one of 10 schools run by Life Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Desford Community Primary School (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 74% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (72%).
Who goes there
12.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%) and Mixed (8%).
In 2026, 55 pupils (14.3%) received SEN support and 11 (2.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Desford Community Primary School.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Desford Community Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Desford Community Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Desford Community Primary School (URN 119921), it was rated Good in September 2012.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Parents can be confident that Desford is a warm, inclusive community where children are encouraged to be kind to themselves, others and the environment. The school excels at teaching reading and early phonics, with pupils becoming confident, enthusiastic readers. Staff know pupils well and provide targeted support where needed, particularly for children with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Reading is a particular strength - children develop phonics skills early and love reading with access to diverse books
- Strong behaviour and attitudes across the school with clear behaviour expectations and good relationships
- Effective support for pupils with SEND and disadvantaged learners through targeted training and feedback
- Well-sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge gradually from Reception onwards
- Governors and trustees work closely with the school to support improvement
Areas for Improvement
- Some subjects lack clear definitions of what pupils should know and be able to do, which limits their learning progress
- In a small number of cases, teachers do not present information clearly enough or use key vocabulary accurately, affecting how well pupils remember knowledge
- Need to ensure all staff have the skills to present curriculum content clearly and consistently across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created a positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School residentials in key stages 1 and 2, learning musical instruments, singing, concerts, anti-racism assemblies
Desford Community Primary School is a good school where pupils feel safe and supported to achieve well. The school's ethos of being kind to yourself, others and the environment is evident throughout the community.
At a Glance
12.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
72 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 86% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 77% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 51% to 76% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
31.9
KS2
13
Total classes
5 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Desford Community Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Desford Community Primary School.
- Desford Primary Holiday ClubAt the school · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Desford Community Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Desford Community Primary School is in Leicestershire; for families living there:
- Leicestershire's school travel policy: Mainstream School Transport for 5 to 16 year olds
- How to apply: Request for school transport on medical grounds form PDF, 359.48 KB Opens new window
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 6
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Leicestershire is 3 (the median across 329 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Desford Community Primary School
Will you get a place at Desford Community Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Desford Community Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Desford Community Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Desford Community Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Leicestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Desford Community Primary School for 2023 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Leicestershire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
383 pupils
420 places
37 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Leicester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leicester
Across Leicestershire council
Places available
8,574
Applications
6,827
Got 1st preference
94.0%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Leicestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
55
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
17.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
385
Total Pupils
182
Boys
203
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
17.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,510
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2046k
Total funding
£67k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.6%
Overall absence
3.7%
Persistent absence
328
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Desford Community Primary School
Questions parents ask about Desford Community Primary School
What are SATs results like at Desford Community Primary School?
Of the pupils at Desford Community Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 82% did so in maths.
What is Desford Community Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Desford Community Primary School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Desford Community Primary School (URN 119921), it was rated Good in September 2012.
What is the catchment area for Desford Community Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Desford Community Primary School is oversubscribed, Leicestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Desford Community Primary School?
Desford Community Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Desford Community Primary School?
Classes at Desford Community Primary School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26). 5 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Desford Community Primary School?
Desford Community Primary School has around 385 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Desford Community Primary School?
3.6% of sessions were missed at Desford Community Primary School in 2024/25. 3.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Desford Community Primary School?
Apply through Leicestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Desford Community Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Desford Community Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Desford Primary Holiday Club (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Desford Community Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 6 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Leicestershire is 3 (the median across 329 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Desford Community Primary School?
Desford Community Primary School is at Kirkby Road, Desford, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE9 9JH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)