Highfield Leadership Academy, Blackpool

From the headteacher's welcome: "Working together for excellence is essential to the Academy’s success, and we are fortunate to have families, staff and governors who are committed to playing an active role in contributing to our vibrant and thriving Academy community. We are absolutely committed to our mission of delivering educational excellence, character development and service to communities."

In 2026, pupils at Highfield Leadership Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 35.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 38.7 in Blackpool and 47 across England.

35% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 35% in Blackpool and 47% in England.

That is up from 30 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.96: 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, against 41.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 13 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 121 families put Highfield Leadership Academy as their first choice and 276 named it as one of their preferences, for 185 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Highfield Leadership Academy are Armfield Academy (0.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 34.2); South Shore Academy (0.8 miles, Attainment 8 34.4); St George's School A Church of England Academy (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.4); and St Mary's Catholic Academy (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.2).

Highfield Leadership Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Highfield Leadership Academy is one of 36 schools run by Star Academies, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.6 in 2024/25.

16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Highfield Leadership Academy (as of September 2025): 75% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 43% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (94%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (43%).

Of the 93 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 74% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 47% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

55.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 10.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (81%), Asian (6%) and Mixed (5%).

The nearest tram or metro stop is Burlington Road West (Blackpool Tramway), about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

19 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Highfield High School (outside), 80 metres away.

In 2024/25, Highfield Leadership Academy issued 468 suspensions, 68.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 17 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Highfield Leadership Academy are Hawes Side Academy (0.3 miles); Our Lady of The Assumption Catholic Primary School, Blackpool (0.4 miles); Marton Primary Academy and Nursery (0.5 miles); and Roseacre Primary Academy (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.