Loughborough University, Loughborough
Loughborough University is a school for pupils in Loughborough.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Loughborough University in detail
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Loughborough Central (Great Central Railway), about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Computer Studies (after), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Loughborough University stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 201 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leicestershire (58), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Loughborough University does an excellent job helping learners develop confidence and real-world skills. Staff work closely with major employers to ensure apprenticeships reflect industry needs, and learners apply their knowledge successfully in their jobs. The foundation art and design programme is particularly strong, with tutors providing regular feedback and helping students progress to university courses.
Key Strengths
- Staff build learners' confidence, independence and problem-solving skills through encouraging them to take risks and learn from mistakes
- Lecturers teach complex concepts effectively using videos, diagrams and step-by-step explanations to help apprentices understand
- Foundation art tutors provide frequent feedback and use effective strategies to develop learners' critical analysis and artistic skills
- Leaders work closely with employers and industry advisory boards to ensure apprenticeships are current and meet industry needs
- Staff provide effective support for learners with additional support needs, including one-to-one training and tailored explanations
Areas for Improvement
- Put in place filtering and monitoring systems on the university intranet for learners under 18
- Improve communication between GCSE English and mathematics providers and tutors so foundation art tutors can better support learners
- Provide more information to art and design learners about creative degree apprenticeships and other career options
- Reduce the number of apprentices leaving their programmes early
- Increase work placement opportunities for foundation art and design learners
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, though leaders have identified the need to implement filtering and monitoring systems on the university intranet for learners under 18.
Extracurricular Activities
Creative Futures Project workshops in modelmaking, ceramics, screen-printing and digital stitching, careers coaching sessions, industry specialist sessions, knitwear and textile projects with local companies
Loughborough University is a higher education institution offering apprenticeships at level 7 and a level 3 foundation diploma in art and design. The university was rated Good overall, maintaining its previous inspection rating.
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Loughborough University
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 0
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, 2 serious and 0 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
0 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
Capacity & Demand
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.
Inspection History(3)
Questions parents ask about Loughborough University
What is the catchment area for Loughborough University?
No fixed boundary. When Loughborough University is oversubscribed, Leicestershire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Loughborough University?
Apply through Leicestershire's coordinated admissions process, naming Loughborough University on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Loughborough University?
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, 2 serious and 0 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 0 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 Loughborough University?
Loughborough University is at Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)