Leek High School

Leek High School is in a phase of transition, having made significant improvements since its previous inspection, which was graded as inadequate. Although the overall effectiveness is currently rated as requiring improvement, the school has established a supportive culture with high expectations for attendance and behavior. Pupils feel well cared for and are engaged in their learning, leading to much higher attendance rates compared to the national average. However, the quality of education still needs to be addressed, with inconsistent teaching practices affecting pupil achievement. Strengths include well-planned and ambitious curriculum offerings, especially for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), as well as strong provision for reading. The leadership under the new headteacher has been pivotal in creating a positive environment, with parents and staff expressing more confidence in the school's direction. Nonetheless, further attention is required to ensure consistent assessment practices and effective curriculum implementation to support all pupils in achieving their best.

Strengths

• Stable staffing and supportive culture
• High attendance rates well above national average
• Strong provision for pupils with SEND
• Well-planned enrichment opportunities and careers education
• Improvements in reading support and newly refurbished library
• Positive changes in parental confidence and staff morale

Areas for Improvement

• Teaching quality is inconsistent across subjects
• Assessment practices are not used effectively to inform teaching
• Curriculum implementation lacks uniformity

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Leek High School attended 96.7% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 5.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 11.9% of pupils at Leek High School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Leek High School had 12.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 15.3% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.0% of pupils at Leek High School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Leek High School received £8,554 and spent £8,546 for each of its 254 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £3,000 (-£12 per pupil).

Across all 9 schools of The Talentum Learning Trust, income was £7,413 and spending £7,300 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Leek · Staffordshire local authority: places and applications

Leek High School is part of The Talentum Learning Trust, which runs 9 schools. The nearest others:

• Leek First School Select
• Beresford Memorial CofE First School Leek
• Churnet View Middle School Leek
• All Saints CofE First School Leek
• Westwood First School Leek
• Westwood College Leek
• Blackshaw Moor CofE First School Leek
• Rushton CofE First School Macclesfield

What is Leek High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Leek High School is Requires Improvement, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was Leek High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Leek High School was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does Leek High School have?

Leek High School has 261 pupils on roll.

What age range does Leek High School cover?

Leek High School for pupils aged 13 to 18.

Where is Leek High School?

Leek High School is at Springfield Road, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 6EU.