Millgate School, Leicester
Millgate School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 16 in Leicester, part of Discovery Schools Academies Trust Ltd.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Millgate School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Millgate School are The Goldhill Learning Foundation (1 mile, Good); Miller House School (1.1 miles); Leicester Therapeutic School (1.2 miles); and The Children's Hospital School (1.3 miles, Outstanding).
The Goldhill Learning FoundationMiller House SchoolLeicester Therapeutic SchoolThe Children's Hospital School
The trust
Millgate School is one of 21 schools run by Discovery Schools Academies Trust Ltd, an academy trust.
What parents say
21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Millgate School (as of September 2025): 71% would recommend the school, 71% say their child is happy there and 64% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (81%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (57%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 22 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 50% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college.
Who goes there
85.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (79%) and Mixed (15%).
Almost every pupil at Millgate School has an education, health and care plan (123 of 123 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Millgate School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Leicester Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Aston Hill (opposite), 200 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Millgate School issued 52 suspensions, 41.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Millgate School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2021. Before that, as Millgate School (URN 120362), it was rated Outstanding in December 2019.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's November 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Millgate School excels at helping pupils with complex needs develop confidence and resilience both academically and socially. Staff know each pupil exceptionally well and provide expert emotional support, with most pupils showing marked improvements in attendance and behaviour. The school offers a broad range of learning experiences, from caring for animals to vocational courses in animal care, sports leadership, catering and hair and beauty, preparing pupils effectively for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Excellent personal development programme with strong careers guidance and real-world vocational experiences
- Highly effective reading programme that engages pupils at all stages and builds phonics knowledge systematically
- Expert pastoral support for pupils' social, emotional and mental health difficulties, helping them manage emotions and regulate behaviour
- Strong academic curriculum delivered through well-trained teachers who use good subject knowledge and precise questioning
- Well-structured 'pillars' curriculum with 'learning characters' that builds pupils' resilience and aspirations
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff creating a safe environment where pupils feel supported and leaders fulfilling all statutory responsibilities.
Extracurricular Activities
Animal care, sports leadership, catering, hair and beauty courses, community volunteering, local visits including places of worship, animal care responsibilities (goats, and other school animals)
Millgate School is a special school for pupils aged 7-16 with social, emotional and mental health needs. The school has maintained the outstanding standards from its previous inspection, with staff demonstrating a united passion for helping pupils achieve their highest potential.
At a Glance
85.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
21 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 17% to 25% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 0% to 13% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 8% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Millgate School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Millgate School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Millgate School is in Leicester; for families living there:
Apply to Leicester for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 25
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 18 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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 Leicester is 24.5 (the median across 142 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
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
123 pupils
125 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Leicester
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leicester
Across Leicester council
Places available
4,570
Applications
4,613
Got 1st preference
83.9%
Got preferred school
94.9%
All secondary applications across Leicester council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
123
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Millgate School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
123
Total Pupils
103
Boys
20
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
24
Teachers
5.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,181
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
21.2%
Overall absence
54.0%
Persistent absence
126
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
Millgate School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Millgate School
What are GCSE results like at Millgate School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Millgate School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 14.5. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Millgate School's Ofsted rating?
Millgate School has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2021. Before that, as Millgate School (URN 120362), it was rated Outstanding in December 2019.
What is the catchment area for Millgate School?
No fixed boundary. When Millgate School is oversubscribed, Leicester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Millgate School?
Millgate School has around 123 pupils on roll. 85% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Millgate School have specialist SEN provision?
Millgate School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Millgate School?
21.2% of sessions were missed at Millgate School in 2024/25. 54% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Millgate School?
Apply through Leicester's coordinated admissions process, naming Millgate School 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 Millgate School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 25 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 18 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 Leicester is 24.5 (the median across 142 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Millgate School?
Millgate School is at 18a Scott Street, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 6DW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)