Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy

About Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy

Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy sits in a Leeds secondary landscape where the average Progress 8 score is 0.07, meaning pupils across the local authority typically make slightly more progress than the national average. The school itself does not have a published Progress 8 score in the data, so a direct numerical comparison is not possible. However, its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024 awarded an overall Good rating, with personal development judged Outstanding. That personal development grade stands out against the local context: only 15 of Leeds’ 50 secondary schools hold an Outstanding rating overall, and this school’s top mark in that specific category suggests a real strength in how it supports pupils’ character, resilience and wider skills. The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 673 applications for 208 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 183 first-preference offers made from 221 first-preference applications. That level of demand hints that local families see something distinctive here, even if the headline academic metrics are not fully visible in the data.

Academically, the picture is less clear-cut. The school does not publish its own Progress 8, Attainment 8 or EBacc results in the available data, so it is impossible to say how its exam performance compares with the Leeds average of 0.07. The Ofsted breakdown shows the quality of education is Good, with behaviour and attitudes also rated Good. The school serves a community with a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 44.9%, well above the national average, which often makes direct comparisons with more affluent schools less meaningful. The leadership and management are rated Good, and the inspection report notes no previous grade, so this is the school’s first graded inspection under its current structure. For parents focused purely on raw exam scores, the lack of published Progress 8 data is a gap worth investigating further by asking the school directly. But the Ofsted judgement suggests teaching and curriculum are at least solid, and the Outstanding personal development grade points to a school that takes the broader education of its pupils seriously.

The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form, so families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. Facilities are strong for a state school: a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, art studios and an ICT suite are all listed, alongside a dining hall and sixth form centre (though the centre is presumably used for other purposes given there is no official sixth form). Sports provision is wide, including rugby, hockey, cricket, gymnastics, martial arts and basketball, and there are clubs such as Model UN, coding, orchestra and book club. SEND support covers a broad range of needs, including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. With 822 pupils against a capacity of 1050, the school is not full, but it is heavily oversubscribed — 3.24 applications per place — so applying as a first preference is essential. This school will suit families who value strong pastoral care and personal development, and who are comfortable with a large, diverse comprehensive where academic results are not the headline story but the wider offer is clearly popular.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents