Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #2 in Leeds public Top 5% UK

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Dominic Kelly

location_onLeeds, LS6 4QE

language Visit Website phone 1138873240

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

groups

Students

917

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#1 in Leeds

#319 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School is a Voluntary aided school secondary school in Leeds, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School is a voluntary aided school in Leeds, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 919 pupils on roll, of whom 19% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 58, placing the school #1 in Leeds and #319 of 3,216 nationally. 73.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 34.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

73.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)34.5%

Entering EBacc44.00%

EBacc APS5.13

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.66

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

59.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29.60%

EBacc APS5.08

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc58%

EBacc APS5.07

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.58

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc55%

EBacc APS5.39

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc65%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc88%

EBacc APS4.96

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc84%

EBacc APS4.7

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)94%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 February 2023

Inspection Report

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07 February 2018

Inspection Report

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04 June 2014

Inspection Report

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10 May 2013

Inspection Report

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05 February 2013

Inspection Report

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05 October 2011

Inspection Report

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10 March 2010

Inspection Report

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28 February 2007

Inspection Report

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14 January 2002

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-02-07

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-06-04

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-02-05

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

3.8%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.2%(29 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 919 pupils. During this period, there were 35 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.8%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	919	35	3.8%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	918	24	2.6%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	916	23	2.5%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	923	16	1.7%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	921	27	2.9%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	918	19	2.1%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	917	12	1.3%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	918	20	2.2%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	911	16	1.8%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	917	24	2.6%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	918	23	2.5%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	912	16	1.8%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	908	7	0.8%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	906	17	1.9%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	912	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	912	8	0.9%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	910	10	1.1%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	909	9	1.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	908	12	1.3%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	907	8	0.9%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	908	14	1.5%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	906	20	2.2%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	898	9	1.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	898	14	1.6%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	900	16	1.8%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	900	18	2.0%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 29 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 20 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 18 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 15 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 14 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

94.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree50%

agree41%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree24%

agree49%

disagree18%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree36%

agree21%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable30%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes12%

no88%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree22%

agree44%

disagree22%

strongly disagree11%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree47%

agree43%

disagree5%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree47%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree49%

agree41%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree49%

agree45%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree48%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree39%

agree45%

disagree6%

strongly disagree4%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes90%

no10%

Top Secondary Schools in Leeds

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Horsforth School

Good

location_on Leeds, LS18 5RF

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Boston Spa Academy

Outstanding

location_on Wetherby, LS23 6RW

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Abbey Grange Church of England Academy

Good

location_on Leeds, LS16 5EA

emoji_events #4 in LA

Roundhay School

Outstanding

location_on Leeds, LS8 1ND

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Morley Academy

Outstanding

location_on Leeds, LS27 0PD

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St. Mary's Menston, a Catholic Voluntary Academy

Outstanding

location_on Ilkley, LS29 6AE

emoji_events #7 in LA

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Leeds

Horsforth School

Boston Spa Academy

Abbey Grange Church of England Academy

Roundhay School

The Morley Academy

St. Mary's Menston, a Catholic Voluntary Academy