The Herewoode Academy

New College Leicester occupies a sprawling campus in the Glenfield area of West Leicester, serving a diverse community with a focus on inclusivity and character development. Operating as a foundation school under the local authority, it provides education for approximately 1,000 students. The school maintained its Good rating from Ofsted following an inspection in 2023, which highlighted a stable leadership team and a curriculum designed to broaden the horizons of its students. While academic results sit below the England average, the school is recognized for its significant investment in vocational pathways and its status as a local hub for sporting excellence.

The atmosphere at New College is one of visible energy, particularly around its extensive sports facilities. The campus features modern, airy classrooms and specialized zones for the arts and technology. Jane Brown has served as the Principal since 2015, providing over a decade of consistent leadership that has seen the school move through significant periods of structural change.

The school operates with a clear sense of social mission. Official assessments highlight that students feel safe and that there is a strong culture of mutual respect between staff and students. The school values of curiosity, kindness, and perseverance are integrated into the daily rewards system. This is a school that celebrates personal growth alongside academic progress. The corridors are calm, and there is a supportive, community-led feel throughout the buildings.

Academic performance at The Herewoode Academy reflects the challenges of its comprehensive intake. In the current 2024-25 / 2025 dataset, the school achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 39.4. This indicates that students achieve, on average, close to a grade 4 across their best eight subjects. The Progress 8 score of -0.23 suggests that students make slightly less progress than their peers in England from their starting points in primary school, though this remains within a typical range for schools in similar demographic contexts.

The school ranks 2,755th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and ranks 28th among schools in Leicester. This performance places the school in the national lower tier, sitting within the bottom 40% of schools in England. A specific area for focus is the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), where 2.9% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above. However, the school points to its strong results in vocational subjects, such as BTECs in Sport and Health and Social Care, as a more accurate reflection of student success.

Teaching at New College is focused on a knowledge-rich curriculum with a particular emphasis on literacy. In the younger years, the school has implemented specialized reading programs to bridge gaps in ability. Mathematics is set by ability from Year 7, while other subjects remain largely mixed-ability to foster an inclusive environment.

Science and Technology are areas of strength for facilities. The school has dedicated laboratories and workshops that support both academic GCSEs and technical qualifications. External reviews point to teachers having good subject knowledge and a commitment to helping students who find learning more challenging. The curriculum is adapted for students with additional needs, ensuring that the most able students are stretched while others receive targeted intervention in core subjects.

Where Students Go Next

The destinations of New College leavers reflect the school's vocational focus. According to the 2024 leavers' data, 0% of students progressed immediately to university, which is unusual for a school with a post-16 phase and suggests a cohort almost entirely focused on technical or work-based routes. Instead, 29% of leavers moved into further education colleges to pursue higher-level vocational diplomas.

The school has a high rate of students entering apprenticeships, with 18% of the cohort securing placements in 2024. Additionally, 24% of students moved directly into employment. The school's careers department works closely with local employers in the East Midlands to facilitate these pathways, ensuring students are prepared for the world of work.

New College Leicester is currently oversubscribed at the primary entry route (Year 7). In the most recent admissions cycle, there were 336 applications for 206 places, resulting in 1.63. applications per place All students who listed the school as their first preference were offered a place, indicating that local families who prioritize the school are generally successful.

Admissions are coordinated by Leicester City Council. The deadline for Year 7 applications for September 2027 entry was 31 October 2026, with National Offer Day scheduled for 1 March 2027. Proximity to the Glenfield Road site is a key factor once siblings and looked-after children are placed. Parents should use the FindMySchoolMap Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to previous years.

Fees & Financial Aid

As a state-funded foundation school, there are no tuition fees at New College Leicester. Education is provided free of charge to all students aged 11 to 18. Families should, however, budget for costs associated with school life, including the mandatory school uniform, physical education kits, and occasional voluntary contributions for school trips or specialized materials for certain vocational courses.

The school provides support for families eligible for Free School Meals, and additional financial assistance may be available through the school's learner support funds for those facing exceptional hardship.

Pastoral care is a significant pillar of the school's identity. The school uses a vertical tutoring system where students from different year groups share a tutor group, encouraging older students to mentor younger ones. Independent monitoring confirms that safeguarding is effective and that the school has a proactive approach to mental health.

There is a dedicated Wellbeing Centre on-site where students can access support from school counselors or youth workers. The school's approach to behavior is based on restorative justice, aiming to resolve conflicts through dialogue. This has led to a reported improvement in how students manage their own behavior and a reduction in exclusions.

Extracurricular life at New College is dominated by its world-class sporting facilities. The New College Leicester Sports Centre is one of the best in the region, featuring a specialist gymnastics hall, a floodlit 3G pitch, and a dedicated cycling track. The school hosts the Leicester Gymnastics Club and has produced several regional and national champions.

STEM: Innovation and Technology

• The VEX Robotics Club: Students design and build robots for regional competitions, applying physics and coding in a practical setting.
• Greenpower Racing: The school participates in the Greenpower challenge, where students engineer and race an electric car.
• The Coding Society: A popular lunch-time club focusing on Python and web development.

The school day begins at 8:40am and concludes at 3:10pm. The school offers a comprehensive transition program for Year 6 pupils coming from local primary schools. The site is well-served by local bus routes from the city center and Glenfield, though on-site parking for visitors is limited during drop-off and pick-up times.

• Vocational over Academic focus: For families seeking a high-pressure academic environment focused on the EBacc and Russell Group university entry, this may not be the ideal fit. The school's strength lies in vocational and technical pathways.
• GCSE Performance: With results currently in the national lower percentile band, parents should look beyond headline grades to the progress made in specific vocational subjects.
• Oversubscription: The school is popular locally. Families should verify their distance from the school as competition for Year 7 places has increased. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place.

New College Leicester is a school that understands its community and plays to its strengths. It is an inclusive, energetic environment that offers a sanctuary for students who may prefer practical, hands-on learning over rigid, exam-focused pathways. Best suited to students who are motivated by technical or work-based routes and those with a serious interest in sport or engineering. Families interested in this option can use the Saved Schools feature to manage their shortlist and compare local alternatives.