The Ruth Gorse Academy

About The Ruth Gorse Academy

The Ruth Gorse Academy is the top-performing secondary school in the Leeds local authority, ranking first out of 42 schools on Progress 8, the key measure of pupil progress from Key Stage 2 to GCSEs. It sits well ahead of its nearest peers: Allerton High School, Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, and Cockburn School, which rank second, third, and fourth respectively. The school also places third across the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber and 85th nationally. It is one of 15 schools in Leeds rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent ungraded inspection in October 2023 confirmed that it remains at that standard. Headteacher Saba Mir leads a mixed, non-denominational 11-16 academy that is significantly oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, the school received 1,060 applications for 250 places, with 329 families putting it as their first preference.

Academically, the school’s results are striking. Its Progress 8 score of 0.99 is well above average and far exceeds the Leeds local authority average of 0.07. Pupils make particularly strong progress in the EBacc subjects, where the Progress 8 score reaches 1.23, and in open subjects at 0.93. Attainment 8 sits at 50.4, and 72.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, compared with 50.2% at grade 5 or above. Over half of pupils entered the EBacc, and 51.8% achieved the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. The school’s EBacc average point score is 4.81. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 99% of respondents would recommend the school, and 88% strongly agreed that their child is happy and does well. In the most recent Parent View survey, 88% also strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child.

The school is well equipped with a theatre, library, playing fields, science labs, music rooms, and tennis courts. Sports on offer include swimming, hockey, gymnastics, football, and martial arts, while clubs range from Book Club and Coding to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Orchestra. The school provides for a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. 34% of responding parents in the Parent View survey said their child receives SEND support, and 87% strongly agreed that the school gives those children the help they need. With 51.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake and achieves exceptional outcomes across the board. This is a school for families who want strong academic progress in a well-run, high-expectation environment, and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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