Ofsted: Special Measures trending_up Places Available emoji_events #13 in Milton Keynes public Top 43% UK

Lift Sir Herbert Leon

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

personMrs Emma Jordan

corporate_fareACADEMIES ENTERPRISE TRUST

location_onMilton Keynes, MK2 3HQ

language Visit Website phone 1908624720

verified

Ofsted

Special Measures

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

625

trending_up

Attainment 8

33.7

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#13 in Milton Keynes

#3,081 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Lift Sir Herbert Leon is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Milton Keynes, serving ages 11-16.

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School Summary

Lift Sir Herbert Leon is an academy sponsor led in Milton Keynes, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ACADEMIES ENTERPRISE TRUST. The school has approximately 647 pupils on roll, of whom 55% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 33.7, placing the school #13 in Milton Keynes and #3,081 of 3,216 nationally. 24.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 5.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Special Measures. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.6× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 19.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 30.5 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

33.7

Grade 5+ E&M

24.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)5.5%

Entering EBacc12.50%

EBacc APS2.93

2024

Progress 8 Score

-1.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

36.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc7.40%

EBacc APS3.16

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.72

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS2.69

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.67

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

40.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS3.25

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-1.08

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

33.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc16%

EBacc APS2.69

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.71

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS2.78

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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

73%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)63%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment10%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)15%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

84%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)75%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)14%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

74%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)70%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)24%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

87%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)12%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

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

Apprenticeships1%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2022

Students

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 October 2024

Inspection Report

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08 November 2023

Inspection Report

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06 June 2023

Inspection Report

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21 February 2023

Inspection Report

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05 May 2022

Inspection Report

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12 September 2018

Inspection Report

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07 February 2018

Inspection Report

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17 October 2017

Inspection Report

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03 May 2017

Inspection Report

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13 October 2016

Inspection Report

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02 July 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

8 Evaluations

2024-10-08

Special Measures S5 ReInspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-05-05

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Inadequate

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Inadequate

Leadership

Inadequate

2018-09-12

Schools into Special Measures Visit 4 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2018-02-07

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-10-17

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2017-05-03

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-10-13

None Legacy

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2014-07-02

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

34.9%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

13.0%(84 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 647 pupils. During this period, there were 226 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 34.9%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	647	226	34.9%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	649	169	26.0%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	663	176	26.5%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	652	169	25.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	656	275	41.9%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	636	187	29.4%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	625	155	24.8%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	617	124	20.1%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	566	122	21.6%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	555	104	18.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	548	93	17.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	551	98	17.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	538	23	4.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	527	91	17.3%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	599	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	599	145	24.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	609	149	24.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	604	55	9.1%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	619	87	14.1%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	621	92	14.8%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	591	82	13.9%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	605	68	11.2%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	621	70	11.3%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	640	83	13.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	667	58	8.7%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	690	58	8.4%	3.1%	0

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

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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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 123 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 24 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 22 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 12 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

health_and_safety

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.

63.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

63.0%Positive

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

27.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree16%

agree26%

disagree26%

strongly disagree21%

don't know11%

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

strongly agree21%

agree37%

disagree21%

strongly disagree16%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree37%

agree16%

disagree26%

strongly disagree11%

not applicable11%

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.

strongly agree16%

agree53%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know16%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree16%

agree42%

disagree21%

strongly disagree5%

don't know16%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree21%

agree53%

disagree11%

strongly disagree11%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree11%

agree74%

disagree5%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree16%

agree68%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree16%

agree26%

disagree16%

strongly disagree11%

don't know32%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes47%

no53%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

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.

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 Milton Keynes

Denbigh School

Oakgrove School

Watling Academy

Kents Hill Park all-through school

E-Act Ousedale School

Walton High