South Wigston High School Review 2026: Secondary academy with a clear improvement agenda in South Wigston

A school can be in “turnaround mode” and still feel purposeful. That is the story here. South Wigston High School is an 11 to 16 secondary academy serving South Wigston and surrounding areas, and it sits within the Learning without Limits Academy Trust.

The headline picture is mixed. The most recent graded inspection (16 and 17 April 2024) judged the school Requires Improvement across all key areas, while also confirming that safeguarding arrangements are effective and noting significant improvement since the previous inspection.

Academic indicators from the FindMySchool dataset point to outcomes that are below England averages overall, including a Progress 8 score of -1.02. At the same time, the school is explicit about routines that support learning, such as structured reading time, progress coaching, and a defined “prep” approach for home learning.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school presents its identity through a simple three word set of values, Ambition, Determination, Respect, which frames the tone of the website and appears tied to day to day expectations around readiness to learn.

A notable feature is the emphasis on consistent routines. Reading is built into the start of the day, and the school has refined its morning structure to separate progress coaching from reading time, explicitly linking this to stronger pastoral check ins and more consistent support for wellbeing and progress.

The inspection evidence adds detail to how this feels in practice. Lessons often start with “do now” tasks to revisit prior learning; disruptions are managed effectively; and many pupils want to learn, but some lack confidence and commitment, which affects engagement and outcomes. Support for behaviour is described as helping to reduce suspensions, suggesting systems are in place, even if culture is still settling consistently across cohorts.

Leadership has also been in transition. The trust confirmed a planned leadership change in April 2024, with day to day leadership moving to Sara Fletcher after the May half term break that year.

For parents who want a straight benchmark, the FindMySchool dataset places GCSE outcomes below England average overall. Ranked 3,504th in England and 2nd in Wigston for GCSE outcomes, this is a proprietary FindMySchool ranking based on official data.

Key headline metrics from the same dataset reinforce that picture:

• Attainment 8 score: 35

• Progress 8 score: -1.02

• EBacc average point score: 3.07 (England average shown as 4.08)

Taken together, this indicates that, on average, students are leaving with outcomes that trail national expectations, and that progress from Key Stage 2 starting points has been significantly weaker than England norms.

It is also important to keep the context tight. The school is in an improvement cycle, and the most recent inspection evidence talks about recent positive change alongside inconsistency in curriculum planning and delivery between subjects, which can translate directly into uneven outcomes.

The school’s published curriculum intent emphasises a broad and balanced offer, including a traditional academic core alongside more applied courses at Key Stage 4 to support personalised pathways.

Inspection evidence gives a more granular view of what is working and what still needs tightening. Many teachers are subject specialists and present new information clearly; questioning is sometimes used well to deepen understanding; and daily reading opportunities exist, supported by a stocked library.

The main improvement thread is consistency. In some subjects, curriculum sequencing is well thought through; in others, planning is still developing, and gaps or misconceptions are not always identified before learning moves on. That can leave students with uneven recall and weaker confidence in their own ability, which then feeds back into motivation and achievement.

For home learning, the school uses “prep” as a defined concept rather than ad hoc homework, with tasks intended to make students better prepared for classroom learning.

This is an 11 to 16 school, so most families will be weighing two transitions, Year 6 into Year 7, then Year 11 into post 16 options. The inspection evidence indicates that most pupils move on to suitable education or training when they leave at 16, and careers education and guidance is described as good quality.

Because the school does not have a sixth form, planning should start early in Year 10 and Year 11. Families typically look at local sixth form colleges and school sixth forms within travelling distance, and it is sensible to attend post 16 open events in the autumn term of Year 11 so that subject choices and entry requirements are clear before GCSE outcomes land.

Year 7 admission is coordinated through the relevant local authority rather than directly through the school. The school publishes a clear timing window for secondary transfer applications, opening on 1 September and closing on 31 October, with offers in early March.

For families living in Leicester City or Leicestershire County, the key statutory dates for 2026 to 27 entry are consistent with that pattern, including the 31 October 2025 closing date and early March 2026 national offer timing.

Because this is a mainstream secondary without selection, the practical question is how oversubscription criteria apply in your area. Parents should read the local authority admissions arrangements for the relevant year of entry and make sure the application is submitted on time. For those close to boundary lines, FindMySchool’s Map Search can help you sense check your likely distance or travel practicality, but families should always treat admissions criteria as the deciding authority.

The school’s daily structure explicitly includes pastoral coaching time, and the curriculum includes personal development content across key stages, covering areas such as relationships, financial literacy, careers education, and wider civic understanding as students approach Key Stage 4.

Inspection evidence highlights several support mechanisms that matter for families deciding whether a school can meet their child’s needs. Nurture groups in Years 7 and 8 are described as particularly effective for students who need additional support, and an on site provision called the Phoenix Centre is referenced as valued by pupils who attend it.

The same evidence base is candid about priorities still in progress, particularly consistent support for students with special educational needs and or disabilities, and improving attendance for vulnerable groups. For parents, the implication is clear, if your child needs finely tuned classroom adaptations, ask specific questions about how staff are trained, how needs are communicated to teachers, and how support is quality assured across subjects.

Co curricular provision is presented as a deliberate strand of school life, typically running after school from 3pm to 4pm and refreshed each term. The published list includes clubs such as Eco, Pen Pal, Leicester Tigers, Maths, Drama, Dance, Music, Art, and Handwriting.

The best way to interpret this is through impact rather than breadth. An Eco club and community focused activities can be especially valuable in schools working hard on belonging and responsibility, because they give students a non academic route to contribution. A structured Maths club can support confidence building for students who have found the subject difficult, while also giving stronger mathematicians a place to stretch.

The library is also positioned as more than a quiet room. It is available at breaks, lunchtimes and after school, and it hosts Dare to Dream clubs and a Prep Club on set days, which aligns closely with the school’s emphasis on reading and preparation routines.

Performing arts opportunities include showcases and events across music, dance and drama, with KS3 and KS4 events referenced.

The published school day runs from 08:30 to 15:00. Breakfast provision is referenced as available from 08:00, and the trust catering model also presents breakfast as a practical support so that students start the day fed.

As an 11 to 16 secondary, wraparound care is not usually framed in the same way as primary breakfast and after school clubs, but families who need supervision beyond 15:00 should check current enrichment and library club timings, and confirm arrangements directly with the school if childcare is a key constraint.

For travel, admissions and attendance guidance is best checked through the relevant local authority, particularly if you may be eligible for transport support under council criteria.

• Outcomes and progress are currently a weakness. The FindMySchool dataset shows an Attainment 8 score of 35 and a Progress 8 score of -1.02, which signals that many students are not achieving as strongly as they could. This matters most for families seeking a consistently high academic trajectory across all subjects.

• Consistency of teaching between subjects is still being tightened. Recent evaluation points to some subjects with well sequenced curriculum planning, and others still developing, which can lead to uneven knowledge and recall. Ask how the school quality assures curriculum delivery and how it supports departments at different stages of development.

• SEND support is a priority area. The evidence base identifies that adaptations are not always made appropriately for students with SEND. Families with children who rely on consistent classroom adjustments should probe how plans are shared with staff and how progress is reviewed.

• Attendance and confidence are part of the improvement agenda. Concerns are raised about persistent absence among vulnerable pupils and about some students lacking belief in their abilities. That can be manageable in the right setting, but families should assess whether their child will benefit from the school’s routines and pastoral structures, or whether they need a more established high confidence academic culture.

South Wigston High School is a local secondary academy in active improvement, with clearer routines around reading, preparation, and pastoral coaching than many schools at the same stage. Safeguarding is confirmed as effective, and there is evidence of positive change alongside work still required on curriculum consistency, SEND adaptations, attendance, and overall outcomes.

Who it suits: families who want a community based 11 to 16 school with structured daily routines and visible investment in improvement, and whose child responds well to clear expectations and pastoral check ins. The main trade off is that academic results and progress measures currently lag behind England norms, so parents with highly academic ambitions may want to scrutinise subject level support and revision provision carefully.