Classpot

John Smeaton Academy

Leeds, LS15 8TASecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Apr 2024
Progress 8
-0.90
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
138 1st-choice / 157 places
Ranking
#2,978
of 3,141 nationally

About John Smeaton Academy

John Smeaton Academy is a mixed secondary school in Leeds with a current roll of 610 pupils against a capacity of 900, meaning it has room to grow. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 41.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Despite this, demand is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 400 applications for 157 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 2.55 applicants per place. Of those, 138 were first-preference offers, suggesting a solid local reputation. The school has a sixth form and a non-religious character, and is led by headteacher Andrew Moncur. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was judged Inadequate. All four graded areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — were rated Good.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressBarwick Road, Leeds, Leeds, LS15 8TA
HeadteacherAndrew Moncur
Local AuthorityLeeds
Number of Pupils610
Free School Meals (FSM)41.5%
School Capacity610 / 900 (68% full)
Sixth FormYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

30 Apr 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 19 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
ICT SuiteAstro TurfLibraryScience LabsMusic RoomsGymnasiumDining HallSports HallSwimming PoolSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

NetballDanceMartial ArtsCross CountryRowingSwimmingGymnasticsBadmintonFootballRugby

Clubs & Activities

CodingArt ClubBook ClubYoung EnterpriseDuke of EdinburghModel United NationsDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced Provision

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About John Smeaton Academy

John Smeaton Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.