Leeds City Academy
98%
Capacity
1,034
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Leeds City Academy
Leeds City Academy’s Progress 8 score of 0.42 places it well above the Leeds local authority average of 0.07 for secondary schools, a significant gap that marks it out as a strong performer in the area. This puts the school 14th out of 42 secondary schools in Leeds, comfortably in the top third, and nationally it sits in the top 20% of all schools. The academy’s Attainment 8 score of 39.8 and its EBacc average point score of 3.45 give a solid picture of academic standards, though the proportion of pupils entering the EBacc is relatively low at 24.7%. The school is oversubscribed, with 369 applications for 209 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 117 first-preference offers were made, reflecting its popularity among local families.
In its most recent graded inspection in 2019, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The most recent ungraded inspection in December 2024 confirmed that standards have been maintained. On the parent view survey, 71% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy (77%), feels safe (77%), and does well (80%). However, 18% strongly disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 29% would not recommend the school, suggesting some dissatisfaction among a minority of families.
The school caters for pupils aged 11 to 16 and has no sixth form. It offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, playing fields, music rooms, and art studios, plus clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Young Enterprise, and debate. SEND provision covers eight areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. With 55.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake, yet its Progress 8 score shows it adds significant value. For families prioritising academic progress and a broad extracurricular offer in a city setting, this academy is a strong contender, though the oversubscription means securing a place is competitive.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Bedford Field, Leeds, Leeds, LS6 2LG |
| Headteacher | Richard Chattoe |
| Local Authority | Leeds |
| Number of Pupils | 1,034 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 55.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,034 / 1,050 (98% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Dec 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (11 Dec 2024): Standards maintained
Source: Ofsted, 19 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.42)
618th of 3,141
Nationally
51st of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
14th of 42
In Leeds
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2319%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 148 pupils).
- FE college36%
- School sixth form (stay)19%
- Sixth form college18%
- Not sustained18%
- Employment3%
78% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
34 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed209
369
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
117 families put this school as their 1st choice (32% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian21.0%
- Mixed7.8%
- White (other)7.4%
- White British6.7%
- Black2.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Leeds City Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Bedford Field, Leeds
Leeds, LS6 2LG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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