Classpot

Ralph Thoresby School

Leeds, LS16 7RXSecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2023
Progress 8
-0.50
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
131 1st-choice / 186 places
Ranking
#2,604
of 3,141 nationally

About Ralph Thoresby School

Ralph Thoresby School is a mixed state secondary and sixth form in the Leeds local authority, serving 1004 pupils aged 11 to 18. It sits 35th out of 42 secondary schools in Leeds when ranked by Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of the authority. For context, the top-performing schools nearby include The Ruth Gorse Academy, Allerton High School, and Mount St Mary's Catholic High School. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 517 applications for 186 places, with 131 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.78. This level of demand suggests it remains a popular choice among local families despite its ranking. The school is led by headteacher Will Carr and has no religious character. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in October 2023, confirmed the school remains Good, a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2015 when it was rated Requires Improvement.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressHoltdale Approach, Leeds, Leeds, LS16 7RX
HeadteacherWill Carr
Local AuthorityLeeds
Number of Pupils1,004
Free School Meals (FSM)32.2%
School Capacity1,004 / 1,037 (97% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

26 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (26 Oct 2023): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 31 Mar 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
Swimming PoolSports HallTennis CourtsScience LabsLibraryAstro TurfPlaying FieldsICT SuiteGymnasiumSixth Form CentreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

Cross CountryMartial ArtsCricketSwimmingRoundersBasketballDanceGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

CodingChessDramaNewspaperChoirFilm ClubDuke of Edinburgh

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyResourced ProvisionOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Ralph Thoresby School

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