Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Places Available emoji_events #15 in Leeds public Top 14% UK

The Farnley Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Chris Stokes

corporate_fareTHE GORSE ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onLeeds, LS12 5EU

language Visit Website phone 1132630741

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,490

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#16 in Leeds

#1,055 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

The Farnley Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Leeds, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade.

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School Summary

The Farnley Academy is an academy sponsor led in Leeds, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It is part of THE GORSE ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,501 pupils on roll, of whom 33% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.1, placing the school #16 in Leeds and #1,055 of 3,216 nationally. 50.90% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 22.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.3:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 7.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

49.1

Grade 5+ E&M

50.90%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)22.6%

Entering EBacc78.80%

EBacc APS4.54

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.53

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc73.10%

EBacc APS4.52

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.72

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc45%

EBacc APS4.36

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.66

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.41

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc24%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.62

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc36%

EBacc APS4.38

2018

Progress 8 Score

0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.13

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

88%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

91%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)83%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 September 2023

Inspection Report

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30 March 2022

Inspection Report

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22 October 2019

Inspection Report

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11 December 2013

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-09-19

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 EIF

Outstanding

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2019-10-22

S8 No Formal Designation Visit EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-12-11

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-06-08

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

history Predecessor Link

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

7.5%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.8%(72 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,501 pupils. During this period, there were 113 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.5%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,501	113	7.5%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,504	108	7.2%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,514	119	7.9%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,491	97	6.5%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,491	131	8.8%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,492	119	8.0%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,490	141	9.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,487	110	7.4%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,443	109	7.6%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,443	97	6.7%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,449	73	5.0%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,412	43	3.0%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,407	26	1.8%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,413	44	3.1%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,358	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,358	44	3.2%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,361	36	2.6%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,290	64	5.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,285	66	5.1%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,312	60	4.6%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,229	62	5.0%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,228	79	6.4%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,238	58	4.7%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,181	65	5.5%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,176	49	4.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,176	63	5.4%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 51 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 47 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 45 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 38 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 33 pupils

Visual Impairment 8 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

95.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree44%

agree49%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree35%

agree53%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree22%

agree30%

disagree7%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable36%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes13%

no87%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree51%

agree22%

disagree16%

strongly disagree5%

dont know5%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree55%

agree43%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree47%

strongly disagree1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree44%

agree51%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree52%

agree48%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree45%

disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree41%

agree51%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes97%

no3%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Leeds

Horsforth School

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

Boston Spa Academy

Abbey Grange Church of England Academy

Roundhay School

The Morley Academy