The Ruth Gorse Academy opened in September 2014 as the result of the Trust’s first free school application. Our determination in applying to open this academy was to establish, in one of the most disadvantaged parts of the Leeds city region, an exceptional secondary school for children in those communities to attend. The academy moved into its state-of-the-art building in Leeds city centre in September 2016.

The academy was judged to be Outstanding in all areas of its work in its inspection of July 2017, and this judgement was reconfirmed in October 2023. OFSTED were immensely impressed by the “exceptional quality of education at The Ruth Gorse Academy.”

The Ruth Gorse Academy serves an area of high disadvantage and a richly diverse community, with students representing a wide range of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. For many years, families in Leeds moved away from the city centre in search of better education, particularly in the secondary sector. The Ruth Gorse Academy has played a pivotal role in reversing that trend, attracting families back into the city centre for the outstanding education and opportunities the academy provides.

At the heart of academy life are our core values of Rectitude, Respectful Relationships, Resilience and Reflection. These values underpin every aspect of our work, shaping our culture, guiding our expectations, and inspiring our students to achieve excellence both academically and personally. They reflect our unwavering belief that character and integrity are as vital as academic success in preparing our young people for life beyond school.

The academy is named in honour of Ruth Gorse, a brilliant Head of PE at The Morley Academy and, prior to that, at The King’s School, Pontefract. Ruth was an inspiration to all who worked with her; a dedicated teacher who placed no limitations on what students could achieve. Her legacy continues to inspire our community today.

In December 2018, The Ruth Gorse Academy was accredited as a World Class School, and in 2019 our first Year 11 cohort graduated with academic outcomes that placed the academy among the best-performing schools in the country. That exceptional level of performance has continued through to 2024, with the academy securing a Progress 8 score of +0.99 for all pupils and +0.68 for the disadvantaged cohort.