Heath Lane Academy, Leicester
Heath Lane Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Leicester, part of United Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 26th-highest of the 35 schools in Leicester with published results, and 2,470th of 3,298 across England. It was 86% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Leicestershire (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Heath Lane Academy in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Heath Lane Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.8 in Leicestershire and 47 across England.
39% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Leicestershire and 47% in England.
That is up from 40 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.55: pupils made well below 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 31.8, against 45.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.5 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.
Getting a place at Heath Lane Academy
For September 2026 entry, 76 families put Heath Lane Academy as their first choice and 139 named it as one of their preferences, for 84 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Heath Lane Academy are The Hinckley School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.2); Redmoor Academy (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.6); Saint Martin's Catholic Voluntary Academy (2.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 56.8); and Hastings High School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.3).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than Heath Lane Academy.
The Hinckley SchoolRedmoor AcademySaint Martin's Catholic Voluntary AcademyHastings High School
The trust
Heath Lane Academy is one of 98 schools run by United Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49 in 2024/25.
What parents say
101 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Heath Lane Academy (as of September 2025): 63% would recommend the school, 67% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (73%); the weakest, that the school supports their child's wider development (50%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 135 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 75% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 53% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.
Who goes there
5.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hinckley Rail Station, about 3.2 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Drive (opposite), 190 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Heath Lane Academy issued 322 suspensions, 47.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Heath Lane Academy are Newlands Community Primary School (0.3 miles), Barwell Infant School (0.7 miles), Barwell Church of England Junior School (0.9 miles) and Townlands Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Newlands Community Primary SchoolBarwell Infant SchoolBarwell Church of England Junior SchoolTownlands Church of England Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Heath Lane Academy creates a welcoming and inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and happy. The school has an ambitious curriculum and uses expert teaching strategies to help all pupils secure knowledge and build confidence. Teachers support pupils' individual needs well, and the school offers excellent enrichment opportunities to develop confident, ambitious young people.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious, broad curriculum with strong focus on reading and literacy support for all pupils
- Effective teaching using modelling strategies and questioning to deepen understanding
- Wide range of personal development opportunities including Duke of Edinburgh, sports, and creative arts
- Swift identification and support for pupils with special educational needs using pupil profiles
- Strong behaviour promotion through rewards system that motivates pupils to meet expectations
Areas for Improvement
- Too much information presented at once in some lessons, affecting engagement for some pupils
- Persistent absence remains too high for some disadvantaged pupils despite improvement efforts
- Need to embed attendance strategies more consistently for disadvantaged groups
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff listening to pupils and acting on concerns, creating an open and positive culture.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, sports clubs, creative arts opportunities, student council, peer mentoring, careers fairs, university visits, workplace visits
Heath Lane Academy has maintained good standards and taken effective action since its previous inspection. The school is happy, safe, and welcoming, with pupils committed to their studies and high expectations for both learning and behaviour.
At a Glance
30.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
101 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from -0.32 to -0.55 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 36.6 to 41.2 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 20% to 39% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 41.2 | 38.5% |
| Disadvantaged(36) | - | 31.8 | 22.2% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(81) | - | 45.3 | 45.7% |
| Boys(54) | - | 34.8 | 29.6% |
| Girls(63) | - | 46.7 | 46% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(7) | - | 48.2 | 42.9% |
| Non mobile(114) | - | 41.2 | 38.6% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 1 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 135 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
5
Permanent exclusions
0.74%
Exclusion rate
322
Suspensions
47.77%
Suspension rate
95 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 674 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Heath Lane Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Heath Lane Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Heath Lane Academy 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
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 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 Heath Lane Academy
Will you get a place at Heath Lane Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Heath Lane Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Heath Lane Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Heath Lane Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Leicestershire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Heath Lane Academy for 2014 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
86%
Available places
671 pupils
784 places
113 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
8,516
Applications
7,490
Got 1st preference
90.2%
Got preferred school
98.1%
All secondary applications across Leicestershire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
86
SEN Support
30
EHC Plans
18.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
644
Total Pupils
312
Boys
332
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
37
Teachers
17.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,241
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,229
Per pupil
£5288k
Total funding
£228k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.5%
Overall absence
28.7%
Persistent absence
708
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Heath Lane Academy
What are GCSE results like at Heath Lane Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Heath Lane Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.2. 39% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Heath Lane Academy's Ofsted rating?
Heath Lane Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Heath Lane Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Heath Lane Academy is oversubscribed, Leicestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Heath Lane Academy?
Heath Lane Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 86% of its 784 places.
How big are the classes at Heath Lane Academy?
Classes at Heath Lane Academy average 27.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Heath Lane Academy?
Heath Lane Academy has around 644 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Heath Lane Academy?
10.5% of sessions were missed at Heath Lane Academy in 2024/25. 28.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Heath Lane Academy?
Apply through Leicestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Heath Lane Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Heath Lane Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 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 Heath Lane Academy?
Heath Lane Academy is at Heath Lane, Earl Shilton, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE9 7PD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)