Countesthorpe Academy Review 2026, Community-focused 11 to 19 provision with a distinctive eSports offer

Countesthorpe Academy is a large, mixed 11 to 19 school on the edge of Countesthorpe village, serving families across South Leicestershire and operating within the LiFE Multi-Academy Trust. The leadership structure combines an Executive Headteacher role with a Headteacher leading day-to-day academy life.

The October 2024 Ofsted inspection graded Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, and Leadership and Management as Requires Improvement, with Personal Development and Sixth Form Provision graded Good.

For families, the practical headline is simple: this is a state school with no tuition fees, and a broad comprehensive intake, with a clear improvement agenda and some genuinely distinctive enrichment, particularly around its eSports arena and related qualifications.

Countesthorpe Academy presents itself as a community-facing school, both in the traditional sense (it originated as a community college) and in the literal one, with facilities that are advertised for community hire, including sports halls, pitches, tennis courts, and an on-site theatre. That “open doors” posture tends to shape the atmosphere, as the academy positions itself as a local hub rather than a closed institution.

The pupil experience sits within a house system that runs across Years 7 to 13, creating vertical groupings and routine opportunities for inter-house competitions and leadership responsibilities. House names are deliberately values-led and recognisable, including Turing, Wilberforce, Lawrence, Brunel, Hawkins, and Spencer. For some students, this structure adds identity and healthy competition; for others it is simply a clear organising framework that makes a large school feel more navigable.

Pastoral and inclusion language on the academy’s published materials places weight on respect, resilience, and success, and on the idea of a key adult relationship through the CREW leader role. The SEND information report also describes a staffing model that includes targeted interventions and specialist practitioner capacity (including nurture and forest school practitioner expertise), which is relevant even for families whose children are not on the SEND register, because it signals how the school tries to handle barriers to learning before they become entrenched.

At GCSE level, the school’s published metrics indicate outcomes below England average. The Progress 8 score is -0.79, suggesting that, on average, students make less progress than pupils with similar starting points nationally. Attainment 8 is 39.4, and the average EBacc APS is 3.31. The proportion achieving grades 5 or above in EBacc is 4.1%.

Ranked 3250th in England and 42nd in Leicester for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places performance below England average. Parents comparing local options can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view GCSE measures side-by-side with nearby schools.

In the sixth form, the A-level grade profile remains a developing picture. A* grades account for 2.93% of entries, A grades 9.16%, B grades 20.15%, and A* to B grades 32.23%. Put differently, A* to A sits at 12.09%. England’s averages for A* to A and A* to B are 23.6% and 47.2% respectively, so the current published outcomes suggest the sixth form is below the national picture on these measures, even though wider sixth form provision is graded more positively in external judgements.

Ranked 2012th in England and 16th in Leicester for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). This places results below England average for the sixth form phase.

The curriculum narrative is anchored around two ideas: subject organisation through faculties, and a desire to make learning feel relevant through structured applied work, particularly at Key Stage 3. The published KS3 curriculum outline indicates that GCSE courses begin in Year 9, with option choices designed to be informed by earlier foundations.

One of the more distinctive curricular strands is the Real LiFE Curriculum model used within Key Stage 3, described as multidisciplinary “learning journeys” with an immersive start and a final product or showcase. It also references coaching sessions, CREW leadership, and an emphasis on independence and reflection. The practical implication for parents is that teaching can look different across groups; a child who thrives with project-based, applied work may find this engaging, while a child who prefers consistently linear, subject-specific instruction may need reassurance about how knowledge is secured and assessed.

The most important academic caution is consistency. The latest inspection evidence points to variability in how effectively the curriculum is implemented across subjects, with an explicit emphasis on the need for regular checks for understanding, vocabulary, and gaps in learning. That is not a minor technical point, it is often the difference between students who steadily accumulate knowledge and students who become expert at “getting by” until assessments expose missing foundations.

The academy offers a clear internal pathway to its HiVE Sixth Form, and also describes strong links with other post-16 routes across the local area. The implication is choice, but also that students do not need to view Year 11 as a single narrow fork in the road.

For a broader sense of destinations, the latest published DfE-style leaver data (2023/24 cohort, size 90) indicates 57% progressed to university, 7% to apprenticeships, 28% to employment, and 1% to further education.

Oxbridge outcomes, while not a defining feature of the school’s profile, do exist at the margins: in the measured period, there were 2 Oxbridge applications, 1 offer, and 1 acceptance. For academically ambitious students, this matters less as a headline “pipeline” and more as proof that high aspiration is possible, provided the student’s academic profile and support plan are strong and realistic.

For Year 7 entry, applications are handled through coordinated local authority admissions. For September 2026 entry, Leicestershire’s secondary admissions portal opened on 01 September 2025, the on-time closing date was 31 October 2025, and National Offer Day was 02 March 2026.

The academy’s own published admissions information mirrors the national timetable and confirms that the trust acts as the admissions authority, including responsibility for appeals. It also sets out that in-year applications are managed by the academy trust rather than coordinated by the local authority, which is important for families moving mid-year.

Catchment matters. The school’s published prospectus describes priority for families living in the designated catchment area, listing a set of villages that includes Countesthorpe, Blaby, Arnesby, Shearsby, Kilby, Foston, Peatling Magna, Broughton Astley, Cosby, Whetstone, Sutton in the Elms, and Glen Parva. Families outside catchment are not automatically excluded, but the practical reality is that availability depends on places within the planned admission number.

If you are shortlisting on the basis of likely eligibility, FindMySchoolMap Search is useful for checking location against known catchment logic and coordinating that with your other preferences, particularly if you are considering a move.

Pastoral systems in a school of this size have to be both structured and personal. Published material describes a tutor group approach within houses, and the CREW leader concept appears repeatedly as the “key adult” relationship. The SEND information report also indicates an intervention model and pastoral triage, including nurture support, which tends to benefit a wider cohort than the formal SEND group.

Attendance is a key issue to take seriously. The most recent inspection evidence highlights persistent absence as a barrier to learning, particularly for more vulnerable pupils, and signals that the school is working on improvement. For parents, the implication is that joining the school works best when home routines support punctuality and steady attendance from day one, because catch-up is harder when curriculum delivery is already variable across subjects.

Safeguarding culture, in the published inspection evidence, is framed through the lens of staff vigilance, pupils feeling safe, and clear routes to adult support. Families should still use open evenings, form time discussions, and pastoral contact points to test how this feels in practice for their child, especially for students with prior anxiety, SEND, or past negative experiences in school settings.

The academy’s enrichment story is stronger when it becomes specific, and here there is plenty to point to.

The headline distinctive provision is eSports. The school has built an on-site gaming arena (described in academy materials as a 26-seater) and has run both eSports club activity and a related Level 3 qualification pathway. This is not just “gaming after school”, it is positioned as a structured programme linked to coaching, teamwork, and progression routes. For the right student, especially one motivated by competitive structures and digital culture, this can be a powerful attendance and engagement lever. For other students, it will be peripheral, but still contributes to a culture that takes modern interests seriously.

STEM and curiosity-led enrichment also appears in concrete ways. The academy has promoted a KS3 Science Club with weekly practical activities. That matters because it signals a route for students who enjoy hands-on learning to build identity as “someone who does science”, which can be particularly valuable for students who are less confident in written work but thrive in applied problem-solving.

Performing arts is another visible strand, underpinned by facilities and participation. The facilities listing references a dance studio and a theatre, and the school has publicised major dance opportunities and productions. A practical implication is breadth of opportunity: students can find a niche beyond sport, and families get more chances to see their child performing, producing, or supporting events, which can be transformative for confidence.

For students who like structured challenge and service, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is offered (Bronze and Silver), which tends to suit pupils who respond well to goal-setting and incremental achievement.

The published timings show a 08:45am start, a 03:00pm end for Period 6, and extracurricular activity from 03:00pm onwards. Break and lunch timings vary slightly by year group, which is common in large secondary settings.

Transport-wise, the school notes multiple bus options and, for post-16, describes a range of travel routes including public bus access and a sixth form minibus offer for some villages. Families should treat routes and timings as variable year to year and check the latest published transport information close to start dates.

The school calendar also flags occasional earlier finishes for staff training days, published in advance. This affects childcare and travel planning, particularly for families relying on shared lifts or bus coordination.

• Academic outcomes are currently below England average. Progress 8 (-0.79) and the school’s GCSE ranking suggest that many students do not yet achieve as well as they should by the end of Year 11. This does not preclude individual success, but it does increase the importance of good attendance, effective homework routines, and early intervention if gaps appear.

• Consistency of teaching and curriculum delivery remains a key improvement area. Published evidence highlights variability between subjects and the need for stronger checking of understanding and vocabulary. Families should probe how the school identifies gaps and what happens when a student starts to fall behind.

• Attendance expectations matter. Persistent absence is flagged as a barrier, especially for vulnerable pupils. If your child has anxiety, health challenges, or a history of school refusal, ask detailed questions about reintegration plans, pastoral support, and early communication.

• SEND support is developing, but adaptations are not yet fully consistent across subjects. If your child relies on tailored teaching approaches, request clarity on how strategies are communicated to staff and monitored in everyday lessons.

Countesthorpe Academy is a large, community-anchored 11 to 19 school with clear structure, notable facilities, and some genuinely distinctive enrichment, particularly eSports and performance opportunities. The main challenge is the academic outcomes picture and the consistency of curriculum delivery, which means families should engage actively with attendance, routines, and early support rather than assuming the system will “carry” a child.

Who it suits: families seeking a comprehensive local school with a broad offer, strong pastoral intent, and modern enrichment pathways, particularly where a child is motivated by structured extracurricular identity such as eSports, science club, or performance, and where home support can reinforce attendance and study habits.