Garforth Academy
Leeds, LS25 1LJ · Leeds · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th of 45 secondary schools in Leeds we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 796 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 7.4/10 among them, against 7.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 62.4 · 84 | 46% | 3.88 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.34 · 75 | 38% | 2.89 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.9 · 74 | 15% | 1.13 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Garforth Academy overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 65.4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.34 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (7.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Book Club, Peer Mentoring, and Reading Mentors, play football, basketball, or skiing, and travel on a ski trip to the USA or a Biology and Geography focussed trip to South Africa.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,897 pupils against a stated capacity of 2,065. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils in the Peer Mentoring scheme? What are the specific entry criteria for the next academic year? How are the USA and South Africa trips funded for families?
What Ofsted said about Garforth Academy
Overview
Garforth Academy delivers an outstanding quality of education, characterised by an ambitious curriculum and high pupil achievement. Pupils demonstrate mature, respectful behaviour and benefit from strong pastoral support and effective leadership. The school prepares students exceptionally well for their future pathways in education, employment, or training.
Strengths
- Pupils achieve extremely well across a broad, academically demanding curriculum centred on the English Baccalaureate, with consistently high public examination outcomes.
- Teachers are subject experts who use a consistent lesson structure to check understanding, address misconceptions, and extend pupils’ thinking effectively.
- The school provides robust support for pupils who do not read at the expected level and for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enabling them to access the same ambitious curriculum as their peers.
- Sixth-form students benefit from a diverse range of qualifications, including T-levels strengthened by employer partnerships, leading to high rates of progression into relevant industries.
- Pupils enjoy extensive enrichment opportunities, including educational visits, leadership roles, and charitable work, fostering an inclusive culture and positive attitudes.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.5 |
| 2024/25 | 53.1 |
| 2025/26 | 50.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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