Millfield L.E.A.D. Academy Review 2026: High-attaining primary in Braunstone Town, with ambitious early years

A primary with a clear academic edge, and the data backs it up. In 2024, 87% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 44.67% achieved greater depth, compared with an England average of 8%.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. It also has on-site early years, including a long-established community nursery and a purpose-built Foundation Stage unit for younger children. Wraparound childcare is a strength too, with both breakfast and after-school options offered in-house.

The tone is purposeful and structured, with pupils taking on genuine responsibilities rather than token roles. Leadership opportunities include e-safety champions, sports leaders, and a pupil council that runs charity events and works on practical school improvements such as outdoor equipment and school grounds projects.

Early years is a notable part of the identity. The community nursery has operated since 1996, now based within the Foundation Stage area, and runs as a sessional offer. The Foundation Stage unit is described as purpose built and separate from the main building; outdoor provision includes a large nature area referred to as “the spinney”, alongside practical play zones such as a mud kitchen, construction areas, and bikes and scooters. (Nursery fees vary, so families should use the school’s official information for the current pricing and funded-hours guidance.)

Leadership is stable. Peter Wood is the headteacher and is named as headteacher in Ofsted correspondence as far back as 04 July 2013, so families can expect a settled leadership context rather than frequent resets.

The headline for families is that outcomes sit well above England averages. In 2024:

• 87% reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined (England average: 62%).

• 44.67% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics (England average: 8%).

• Average scaled scores were 109 in reading, 108 in mathematics, and 111 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

In FindMySchool’s proprietary rankings based on official data, the school is ranked 795th in England and 7th in Leicester for primary outcomes, placing it well above England average (top 10%).

A useful way to interpret those figures is consistency. Strong combined outcomes, alongside high scaled scores, usually signal that teaching routines and assessment are coherent across year groups, not just concentrated in Year 6.

Curriculum intent is framed around building knowledge in sequenced steps, with explicit attention to both “what” pupils learn and “how” knowledge is validated and applied. The curriculum model distinguishes substantive and disciplinary knowledge, and describes learning as a durable change in long-term memory, with planned recap and practice built into teaching.

Reading is treated as a core driver. The published approach includes Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised for phonics, with pupils moving onto Accelerated Reader as they progress. The emphasis on language also shows up in day-to-day practice, with vocabulary development treated as a deliberate priority rather than an add-on.

Practical learning features too. Formal evidence highlights a dedicated kitchen classroom used for pupils to prepare and cook healthy meals, which adds a tangible applied strand to personal development and life skills.

As a state primary, most pupils move on to local secondary schools in the wider Braunstone Town and Leicester area through local authority coordinated admissions. What matters more here is readiness: the curriculum emphasis on reading fluency, strong writing outcomes, and explicit learning habits should translate well into the step up to Year 7 expectations.

For families thinking ahead, the most practical action is to map likely secondary options early and keep an eye on local authority timelines. FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature can help you track a shortlist across both primary and secondary phases.

Reception entry is local-authority coordinated, and the school’s published admission number is 60 for Reception. Oversubscription criteria place priority first for children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, then looked-after and previously looked-after children, then catchment and sibling criteria, with distance used as a tie-break where needed. Distance is measured in a straight line using geocoded mapping from home to the school’s designated main gate; where criteria cannot separate applicants, an independently verified random draw is used as a final tie-break.

Demand indicators point to competition. The recorded admissions cycle shows 101 applications and 54 offers, and the school is marked as oversubscribed, with roughly 1.87 applications per place.

For September 2026 entry across the local area, applications opened on 01 September 2025, the closing date was 15 January 2026, and national offer day was 16 April 2026. Families should use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sense-check catchment logic and likely travel routes, then confirm the current year’s rules through the local authority portal.

Pastoral systems are reinforced by a visible safeguarding culture, with pupils encouraged to identify trusted adults and take on age-appropriate leadership roles linked to safety and wellbeing. The March 2025 Ofsted inspection was ungraded and indicated that the school’s work may have improved significantly since the previous inspection; safeguarding arrangements were confirmed as effective.

Support for pupils with additional needs is described as proactive, with early identification and adaptations to enable access to the wider curriculum and school life, including sport and competitions.

Extracurricular provision is planned in structured blocks rather than ad hoc clubs. The 2025 to 2026 programme includes named options that go beyond the standard football-and-crafts mix, such as Bhangra Club, Djembe Drums, Graphical Modelling, Forest Fun, Debate (Years 5 and 6), and a dedicated Cooking club in the school’s food technology room (“The Hob”). Choir also runs at lunchtime, and music lessons for instruments including guitar, piano and drums are referenced within the wider offer.

Pupil voice is not separated from enrichment. The school council is positioned as a driver of projects and charity fundraising, including themed days and partnerships across the trust, which can suit children who like seeing a practical impact from taking responsibility.

The school day varies slightly by phase. Published timings show EYFS and Key Stage 1 running 8.50am to 3.20pm, and Key Stage 2 running 8.45am to 3.15pm, with gates opening at 8.40am.

Wraparound is a clear strength. Breakfast club runs 7.30am to 8.55am and after-school club runs 3.15pm to 6.00pm, with published prices ranging from £4.00 to £6.00 for breakfast club depending on start time, and £4.50 to £9.00 for after-school club depending on finish time.

Term dates for 2025 to 2026 are published in advance, which helps families planning childcare and holidays.

• Competitive entry pressure. The school is oversubscribed and demand data indicates more applicants than offers. Families should treat admission as uncertain until an offer is confirmed.

• Catchment rules matter. Priority includes catchment and sibling criteria, with distance measurement used as a tie-break; if you are moving, check timelines carefully and keep records current.

• Wraparound and clubs have costs. While there are no tuition fees, breakfast club, after-school club, and some extracurricular activities carry charges, so budgeting for the full weekly pattern is sensible.

• Sessional nursery model. The nursery operates as morning and afternoon sessions rather than a simple full-day childcare offer, which can be ideal for some families and awkward for others with fixed working hours.

Millfield L.E.A.D. Academy stands out for the combination of very strong KS2 outcomes and a well-specified approach to curriculum, reading and learning habits. Wraparound provision and a structured enrichment programme add day-to-day practicality for working families. Best suited to families who value academic focus in a state setting and are comfortable with a competitive admissions picture, including the importance of catchment positioning and application deadlines.