Brocks Hill Primary School Review 2026: High-attainment primary with structured character education in Oadby

Academic outcomes are the headline here, and they are difficult to ignore. In the most recent published Key Stage 2 outcomes, a very high proportion of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, alongside strong scaled scores and a high share reaching the higher standard. These results place Brocks Hill among the highest-performing primary schools in England (top 2%), based on FindMySchool’s ranking model using official data.

The school is part of Lionheart Educational Trust, and leadership is structured accordingly, with a Head of School working within a wider trust framework.

For families, the practical proposition is straightforward, a state school with no tuition fees, excellent outcomes, and an admissions profile that signals sustained demand.

Brocks Hill’s public language centres on character as well as attainment. The school’s stated values are the “6 Rs”, Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Resourcefulness, Reflectiveness and Reciprocity, which gives staff and pupils a shared vocabulary for behaviour, relationships, and how learning is approached.

The latest inspection report describes a calm, orderly learning climate, with pupils feeling safe and respected and classrooms set up to protect learning time. While inspection language should always be read as a snapshot, the detail here is consistent with a school that has clear routines and high expectations.

Leadership is also transparent about the trust context. The Ofsted report names Cathryn Shilling as Head of School, alongside an Executive Headteacher and the wider Lionheart Educational Trust leadership structure. For parents, the practical implication is that the school benefits from trust-wide support and oversight, but local leadership still shapes day-to-day culture.

Brocks Hill is exceptionally strong on primary outcomes. In 2024, 93.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined. This compares with an England average of 62% for the same combined measure.

At the higher standard, 39.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 8%. For families, this matters because it suggests the school is not only moving most pupils past the expected threshold, but also stretching a sizeable cohort beyond it.

The scaled score profile is also high, with reading at 111, mathematics at 111, and grammar, punctuation and spelling at 114. Key Stage 2 scaled scores are standardised so that 100 represents the expected standard, which helps parents interpret whether scores are materially above the benchmark.

Rankings are equally striking. Brocks Hill is ranked 76th in England and 2nd in Leicester for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), placing it among the highest-performing in England (top 2%). Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub to view nearby schools side-by-side using the Comparison Tool, particularly useful when results are strong across multiple schools and the differentiator becomes culture and admissions realities.

The school presents its curriculum as ambitious and deliberately sequenced, with knowledge and skills built step by step across year groups. In practice, that usually shows up in three ways that matter to parents.

First, consistency. When curriculum sequencing is explicit, pupils are less likely to experience gaps when they move classes or year groups, and teachers can spend more time on explanation and practice rather than re-teaching missing foundations. This tends to support both high attainment and confidence, especially in core subjects.

Second, retention. The Ofsted report references planned retrieval and building knowledge logically over time. The parental implication is that learning is designed to stick, not just to be “covered” quickly.

Third, early language development. In primary settings, communication and vocabulary growth are often the invisible engine behind later reading and writing outcomes. The inspection report describes a strong emphasis on extending pupils’ communication and language through routine classroom practice.

As a primary school, the key transition is into local secondary provision, and Oadby offers families several established routes, including mainstream secondaries in the local area and selective opportunities across Leicester and Leicestershire for those pursuing them.

Brocks Hill’s own website includes a dedicated “Secondary School” pathway in its Next Steps section, signalling that transition is treated as a planned process rather than an afterthought. In practical terms, families should expect information-sharing with destination schools, routine transition work during Year 6, and guidance for parents navigating local authority admissions timelines.

For families considering selective routes, it is sensible to assume that a high-attaining cohort will include some pupils sitting entrance tests, even when the school itself is not a selective setting. The best approach is to separate two questions, what the school does well for all pupils now, and what your child needs for the next stage. If you are planning for a specific secondary outcome, discuss that early and look carefully at admissions criteria for the schools you have in mind.

Reception admissions are coordinated through the local authority rather than directly through the school, and the key dates follow the national pattern. The school’s admissions page states that the closing date for first-time applications is 15 January, and decision day is 16 April (or the next working day if that date falls on a weekend or bank holiday).

For 2026 entry specifically, Leicestershire’s published timeline points to National Offer Day on 16 April 2026 for primary allocations, and local authority communications emphasise using official admissions portals for offers and updates.

Demand is a defining feature. For the most recent admissions cycle reflected in the data provided, there were 267 applications for 60 offers, which equates to 4.45 applications per place. The ratio of first preferences to offers is also high at 1.58, indicating that many families list the school as a genuine first choice rather than a fallback.

Because catchment and distance rules can shift year to year, families should treat admission as competitive even if they live nearby. If you are shortlisting seriously, it is sensible to use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check your exact distance and then cross-check that against the local authority’s most recent allocation information for your preferred schools.

A strong primary is rarely only about scores, it is about whether pupils feel secure enough to learn well every day. The latest inspection describes a culture of respect, calm behaviour, and pupils feeling safe.

The school also publishes safeguarding and child protection documentation, which matters because it signals that safeguarding is treated as a formal, structured responsibility rather than an informal expectation. Parents should still ask practical questions on visits or open events, such as how concerns are logged, how the school handles online safety, and how staff training is refreshed.

Wraparound care is an important pastoral and practical feature for many families, and Brocks Hill offers on-site pre-care and after-care through Badgers Sett, with stated operating times from 7.45am to 5.45pm. For working families, that changes the daily feasibility of the school in a way that pure academic data never captures.

Extracurricular provision is unusually well-specified on the school website, including named clubs and external providers, which helps parents understand what is realistically available rather than relying on generic promises.

A snapshot of the programme includes KS2 Basketball delivered with Leicester Riders, Musical Theatre, and STEM clubs for both KS1 and KS2. Sports and activity options also include tennis, football, gymnastics and pickleball across different key stages. The parental implication is twofold. Pupils have structured opportunities to commit to an activity for a defined block, and the range supports different personalities, some children want performance, others prefer practical making and problem-solving, others thrive in team sport settings.

The school’s wider enrichment also links to pupil voice and leadership, including a published pupil leadership area on the website navigation, and recognition through the UNICEF Rights Respecting School Silver status page. Taken together, the picture is of a school that treats personal development as planned provision, not an optional extra.

The school day is published clearly. Start is 8.50am (with Foundation Stage noted as 8.55am), and the end of day is 3.20pm.

Wraparound care is available through Badgers Sett, offering pre-care from 7.45am and after-care until 5.45pm.

For transport and day-to-day logistics, the school’s location in Oadby means many families will be walking, cycling, or using short car journeys, but families should check current drop-off arrangements and local traffic patterns directly, as these can change with site works and local road conditions.

• Admissions competition. The application-to-offer ratio is high at 4.45 applications per place, which is a reliable signal that demand exceeds supply. Families should plan a realistic set of preferences rather than assuming proximity alone will be sufficient.

• High attainment culture. Results at this level usually come with strong routines and high expectations. That suits many pupils, but children who need a looser structure may require careful support through the transition into Reception and later Key Stage 2.

• Trust structure. Being part of Lionheart Educational Trust brings wider oversight and shared practice, but it can also mean policies and systems are aligned across schools. Parents who prefer very localised autonomy should understand how decisions are made across trust and school leadership.

• Wraparound costs. Pre and after-care availability is a strength, but it comes with published session charges. Families using wraparound daily should model the ongoing cost alongside other practical expenses such as uniform and trips.

Brocks Hill Primary School pairs outstanding attainment with a culture that is structured and values-led. For many families, this combination is exactly what they want, clear routines, strong teaching, and well-established expectations that help pupils learn efficiently.

Best suited to families who value academic stretch alongside character education, and who are prepared to engage early with admissions timelines given the strength of demand. Competition for places is the limiting factor, not the quality of education.