Academy sponsor led · Milton Keynes

Lift Sir Herbert Leon

11–16Ages
589Pupils
SecondaryPhase
138439URN

Fern Grove, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 3HQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Oct 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.8 below Milton Keynes median (2.2)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Milton Keynes

136 applications for 100 places · 14th of 15 in Milton Keynes

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

42.6of 90

Milton Keynes 44.0 England 46.0

10th of 14 in Milton Keynes

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 8 October 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.4applications per place, Year 7

0.8 below Milton Keynes median (2.2) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

136 applications · 100 places offered · 70 named it first

2026 1.4; Milton Keynes median median 2.2
2025 1.3; Milton Keynes median median 2.3
2024 1.0; Milton Keynes median median 2.1
2023 1.0; Milton Keynes median median 2.1
2022 0.9; Milton Keynes median median 2.0
2021 0.8; Milton Keynes median median 2.1
2020 0.8; Milton Keynes median median 2.1
2019 1.3; Milton Keynes median median 1.9
2018 1.1; Milton Keynes median median 1.9
2017 1.3; Milton Keynes median median 1.9
2016 1.3; Milton Keynes median median 2.0
2015 1.3; Milton Keynes median median 1.7
2014 1.0; Milton Keynes median median 1.6

More applications per place than the Milton Keynes median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Milton Keynes median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	100	136	1.4	70	0.70
Sep 2025	88	118	1.3	59	0.67
Sep 2024	117	121	1.0	67	0.57
Sep 2023	135	128	1.0	73	0.54
Sep 2022	178	156	0.9	95	0.53
Sep 2021	130	108	0.8	71	0.55
Sep 2020	154	125	0.8	74	0.48
Sep 2019	103	129	1.3	78	0.76
Sep 2018	89	94	1.1	59	0.66
Sep 2017	93	120	1.3	80	0.86
Sep 2016	95	121	1.3	82	0.86
Sep 2015	103	134	1.3	89	0.86
Sep 2014	133	128	1.0	97	0.73

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

115 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)42.610th of 14 in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes 44.0 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%6th of 14 in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes 44% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths64%

Milton Keynes 64% England 66%

This school
Milton Keynes median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−1.02

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	115	42.6	47%	64%	–
2024/25	144	33.7	24%	46%	–
2023/24	122	36.3	38%	55%	−1.02
2022/23	86	33.4	24%	36%	−0.72

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Lift Sir Herbert LeonThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.4applications per place 42.6Attainment 8
Lord Grey Academy
2.6 km · Milton Keynes

2026

1.7applications per place 40.6Attainment 8
Walton High
5.2 km · Milton Keynes

Good2023

1.7applications per place 44.0Attainment 8
Shenley Brook End School
5.3 km · Milton Keynes

Remains Good2024

2.9applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
St Paul's Catholic School
5.4 km · Milton Keynes

Standards maintained2025

2.2applications per place 43.9Attainment 8
The Milton Keynes Academy
5.6 km · Milton Keynes

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 40.1Attainment 8
Kents Hill Park all-through school
5.9 km · Milton Keynes

Good2022

3.8applications per place 45.5Attainment 8
Denbigh School
6.6 km · Milton Keynes

Standards maintained2024

4.7applications per place 56.2Attainment 8
Oakgrove School
6.6 km · Milton Keynes

Standards maintained2024

4.0applications per place 53.5Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 138439 · 826/4002
Trust: Lift Schools
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 750 pupils · 589 on roll
Free school meals: 51.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 September 2012
Replaced: Leon School and Sports College (URN 110502)
Address: Fern Grove, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 3HQ
Local authority: Milton Keynes

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources