Lift Cottingley

About Lift Cottingley

Lift Cottingley is a state primary school in Leeds that serves a notably diverse intake. With 263 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is operating at just over 60% of its potential size, which is unusual for a popular urban primary. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 51%, more than double the national average of around 23% and significantly above the Leeds local authority average, indicating a catchment with high levels of socioeconomic disadvantage. Despite this, demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 35 applications for 21 places, with all 21 first-preference applicants offered a spot. The oversubscription ratio of 1.67 confirms that Lift Cottingley is a sought-after choice among local families, particularly given its non-religious character and mixed-gender, co-educational setting for children aged 2 to 11.

Academically, Lift Cottingley performs well above the Leeds average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 61%. This places the school 28th out of 204 primary schools in Leeds, in the top 25% nationally. Results are particularly strong in reading, where 85% met the expected standard and 44% achieved the higher standard, and in maths, where 79% met the expected standard and 38% reached the higher level. Average scaled scores of 108 in reading and 107 in maths are solid. The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2019 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. An ungraded inspection in June 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2016.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields and a chapel, plus clubs such as coding, film, science, eco and book club. Sports include cricket, cross country, athletics and netball. Lift Cottingley has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, social and emotional mental health, dyslexia, physical disability and other difficulties. There is nursery provision for children from age 2. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School in Beeston, 1.5 km away. Lift Cottingley suits families who value a genuinely inclusive, non-selective primary that achieves strong academic outcomes despite serving a high-needs catchment, and who want a school with clear evidence of improvement and sustained demand from local parents.

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