Highfield Leadership Academy, Blackpool
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
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has made real improvements in getting pupils to attend regularly - attendance is now much better than last year. Staff are working hard to help pupils read better, especially those who struggle. The new leadership team and stable staffing mean the school is now focused on helping pupils learn well, with clear systems for checking what pupils understand and revisiting topics when needed.
Key Strengths
- Significantly improved pupil attendance rates across all groups, including the most vulnerable
- Strong focus on reading support for struggling pupils in key stage 4, showing early positive results
- Increased leadership capacity and stable staffing with most teaching vacancies now filled by subject specialists
- Clear teaching 'non-negotiables' with weekly practice clinics providing focused feedback to staff
- Good systems for using assessment information to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistency in teaching quality remains, with some staff lacking secure understanding of lesson activities
- Some teachers not using assessment checks effectively enough to inform their teaching
- Challenges in sustaining improved attendance levels, particularly for some pupil groups
- Large number of early career teachers creating additional challenge for ensuring consistently effective teaching
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are in place with expanded pastoral and safeguarding teams supporting the school's work.
Highfield Leadership Academy has made progress since its last inspection, with new leadership in place and strengthened staffing. The school is beginning to see improvements in pupil attendance and teaching quality, though some areas still need further development.
At a Glance
55.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
16 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
24.4
Avg class size
28
Total classes
9 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
63%
Available places
751 pupils
1,200 capacity
449 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Blackpool
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Blackpool
Admissions Demand - Blackpool
Places available
1,565
Applications
1,613
Got 1st preference
82.8%
Got preferred school
93.8%
Secondary admissions across Blackpool (2025/26)
Inspection History(108)
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
16.39636%
Overall absence
46.93611%
Persistent absence
767
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Highfield Leadership Academy
Hawes Side Academy
Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool
Marton Primary Academy and Nursery
Roseacre Primary Academy
Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy
St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy
Blackpool St Nicholas CofE Primary School
Waterloo Primary Academy
Thames Primary Academy
St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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