Wreake Valley Academy, Leicester

Ofsted's report card from its 28 April 2026 inspection grades Wreake Valley Academy on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders quickly and accurately identify when pupils need extra support."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the school's context."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school prioritises pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils, including students in the sixth form, have not achieved as well as they might have done in national examinations."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance rates are lower than the national average and have been for some time."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Despite recent improvements, the quality of teaching is variable."

Post 16 provision - Needs attention. "Over time, students in the sixth form have not achieved as well as other students nationally in external examinations."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers accurately check pupils' understanding and consistently adapt teaching to address pupils' misconceptions and help pupils build on what they have learned previously, so they are well prepared for ambitious next steps in education, training and employment"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently apply agreed teaching strategies that have been designed to help pupils overcome any barriers to learning and achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure they continue to work effectively on improving attendance for all pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that all staff have high expectations of pupils and consistently challenge lateness to lessons and poor behaviour, especially during unstructured times and as pupils move around the school".

In 2026, pupils at Wreake Valley Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.8 in Leicestershire and 47 across England.

30% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 47% in Leicestershire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 39.7.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.6: 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 26.3, against 43.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Physical Education.

For September 2026 entry, 203 families put Wreake Valley Academy as their first choice and 392 named it as one of their preferences, for 205 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 12 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Wreake Valley Academy are The Roundhill Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 44.5); The Cedars Academy (2.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.4); Rushey Mead Academy (3.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 56.8); and Soar Valley College (3.4 miles, Attainment 8 49.6).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Wreake Valley Academy.

Wreake Valley Academy is one of 19 schools run by Bradgate Education Partnership, an academy trust.

Of the 114 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 56% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 56 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 45% went on to university or other higher education, 16% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 17% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

6.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (83%), Asian (7%) and Mixed (6%).

Wreake Valley Academy has a resourced provision (35 places, 30 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (35 places, 30 pupils on roll) for other difficulties or disabilities.

The nearest railway station is Syston Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Wreake Valley College (adjacent), 300 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 91 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leicestershire (58), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Wreake Valley Academy issued 340 suspensions, 30.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Wreake Valley Academy are St Peter and St Paul Church of England Academy (0.3 miles), Queniborough Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles), The Merton Primary School (0.9 miles) and Broomfield Community Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.