Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy, Leicester
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 7 to 11 in Leicester, part of L.e.a.d. Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 49th-highest of the 138 schools in Leicester with published results, and 5,545th of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Capacity
- 98% full
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy in detail
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy in its own words
In its own words: "We welcome parents and carers to visit us so you can explore our school, meet our dedicated staff, see lessons in action, ask questions and discover why families choose Uplands L.E.A.D. Academy. Uplands Junior Academy is a happy, lively and caring place where children are encouraged to learn in a safe, positive environment."
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 78% of Year 6 pupils at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 75% in Leicester and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 74% in reading and 81% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy
Across Leicester, 97% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 99% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Leicester lodged 91 appeals against primary school offers; 58 reached a hearing and 4 succeeded (6.9% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy are Uplands Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Good); Highfields Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 83% maths); Sparkenhoe Community Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 84% maths); and Medway Community Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 80% reading, 75% maths).
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Uplands Infant SchoolHighfields Primary SchoolSparkenhoe Community Primary SchoolMedway Community Primary School
The trust
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy is one of 27 schools run by L.e.a.d. Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
17 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy (as of September 2025): 88% would recommend the school, 94% say their child is happy there and 60% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (60%).
Who goes there
72.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Asian (84%) and Black (7%).
In 2026, 62 pupils (13.9%) received SEN support and 8 (1.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Leicester Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Donnington Street (opposite), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 1357 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leicester (382), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy issued 8 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy are Moat Community College (0.2 miles), Madani Boys School (0.7 miles), Madani Girls' School (0.7 miles) and Crown Hills Community College (1 mile).
Moat Community CollegeMadani Boys SchoolMadani Girls' SchoolCrown Hills Community College
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 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 January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy creates a warm, welcoming environment where every child feels valued and cared for. The school is ambitious for all pupils and provides tailored support - whether for those learning English or with additional needs - so everyone can succeed. Pupils take pride in their learning, benefit from a rich range of activities and clubs, and are taught important values about respect, tolerance and managing their emotions.
Key Strengths
- Strong culture of respect, care and kindness throughout the school community - pupils are kind to each other and adults listen to concerns
- Effective support for pupils learning English and those with special educational needs, ensuring all can access the curriculum
- Well-designed reading support for early readers with plenty of practice to build confidence and fluency
- Clear focus on pupils remembering important knowledge, with teachers checking understanding and revisiting gaps
- Extensive range of clubs and enrichment activities available throughout the school day
Areas for Improvement
- In some curriculum areas, classroom activities are not clearly connected to the intended learning, meaning pupils may be engaged but not always building knowledge or making links to previous learning
- School needs to ensure all planned activities are carefully designed to support the specific learning objectives
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Crochet, cycling, school council, play leaders, extensive range of clubs throughout the school day
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. The school is characterized by a caring, respectful environment where pupils achieve well and are prepared for life beyond school.
At a Glance
27.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
17 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 74% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
27.9
KS2
16
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy
Celebrating National Poetry Day at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy
2 Oct 2026
British Values Workshop
30 Sep 2026
Reading Morning and Book Fair
30 Sep 2026
Cooking Club
28 Sep 2026
Year 6 During the War Production
16 Sep 2026
L.E.A.D. Maths Roadshow
16 Sep 2026
From Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy.
- Educate LeicesterAt the school · Not yet graded
- Highfields Adventure Playground400m away · Not yet graded
- S&H Tuition and After School club920m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy 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
- 37
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 11
- Children hurt
- 9
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 26 slight.
9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 9 on foot.
9 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
469 pupils
480 places
11 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 Leicester council
Places available
4,828
Applications
3,626
Got 1st preference
96.8%
Got preferred school
99.3%
All primary applications across Leicester council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
62
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
15.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
447
Total Pupils
210
Boys
237
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
21.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,516
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,311
Per pupil
£2814k
Total funding
£218k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.7%
Overall absence
6.8%
Persistent absence
501
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy
Questions parents ask about Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy
What are SATs results like at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Of the pupils at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy's Ofsted rating?
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2019, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy is oversubscribed, Leicester allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Classes at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy average 27.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy has around 447 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
3.7% of sessions were missed at Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy in 2024/25. 6.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Apply through Leicester's coordinated admissions process, naming Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy 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.
Does Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Educate Leicester (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 11 serious and 26 slight. 9 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 9 on foot. 9 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 Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy?
Uplands Junior L.E.A.D. Academy is at Melbourne Road, Highfields, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 0DR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)