Boston Spa Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE GORSE ACADEMIES TRUST

Clifford Moor Road, Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 6RW

01937 846636 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 24 January 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths71%England 45% · 2024/25
2nd highest of 43 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 91% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,498Room for 1,200 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 900 in 2019, 1,119 in 2021, 1,268 in 2022, 1,362 in 2023, 1,429 in 2024, 1,456 in 2025, 1,498 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.1259 for 238 places, September 2026
16th highest of 44 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 73% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 24 January 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

229 pupils in this year group.

71% — 24 points above the Leeds average, and 25 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLeedsEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 71% 47% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 55.6 45.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 5.3 4.1 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 67%This school 2023/24: 64%This school 2024/25: 71% This school England 45% 2022/23 67% 2023/24 64% 2024/25 71%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

200 pupils in this year group.

94% — 5 points above the Leeds average, and 2 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 55%28%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLeedsEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 94% 89% 92%
School sixth form 55% 32% 34%
Sixth form college 6% 14% 13%
Further education college 28% 36% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 3% 3%
Work 2% 2% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
94%94%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

96 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolLeedsEngland
Average A level grade B- B- B-
A level exams graded A* or A 24% 26% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 49% 53% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 35.0 35 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 31.6This school 2023/24: 32.1This school 2024/25: 35.0 This school England 35 2022/23 31.6 2023/24 32.1 2024/25 35.0

A level subjects, 2024/25

25 subjects, 264 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 34 3% 15% 19%
Mathematics 32 9% 38% 40%
English Language 19 0% 5% 13%
Biology 17 0% 12% 27%
Law 17 6% 35% 17%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 15 0% 0% 14%
Geography 14 14% 43% 23%
Sociology 14 7% 14% 20%
Economics 13 15% 31% 26%
History 12 8% 17% 23%
Chemistry 11 0% 18% 30%
English Literature 11 0% 9% 23%
Art and Design 9 44% 44% 34%
Business Studies:Single 9 0% 11% 16%
Physical Education / Sports Studies 8 0% 0% 17%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Drama and Theatre Studies, Physics, Mathematics (Further), Art and Design (Textiles), Computer Studies / Computing, Religious Studies, Art and Design (Graphics), Spanish, Government and Politics, Russian.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

104 students in this year group.

88% — 11 points above the Leeds average, and 9 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLeedsEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 88% 77% 79%
Apprenticeship 10% 9% 7%
Work 19% 26% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
91%88%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

71 students in this year group.

68% — 13 points above the Leeds average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLeedsEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 68% 55% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 21% 16% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
90%68%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Leeds. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered238
Families who put it first259
Of those, offered a place225 (87%)
Families who listed it at all733

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.3 · 2026: 1.1

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Leeds

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLeedsEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
35th highest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
20.8% 30.3%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
Joint 42nd highest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
0.6% 1.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
40th highest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 33% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.5% 15.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
Joint 28th highest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 52% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.8% 21.0%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
20th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 8.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
24th lowest of 45 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
22.0% 23.0%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
23rd lowest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Lower than 51% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.9 21.5 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
17th lowest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Lower than 62% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.4% 7.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.03% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 26th highest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 45% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.6 17.1 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
14th highest of 47 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 74% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.9 11.7 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 6th highest of 46 state secondary schools in Leeds.
Higher than 74% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
18.2% 13.0%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Boston Spa Academy's Ofsted rating?

Boston Spa Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 January 2023.

How did Boston Spa Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 71% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 25 points above the England average of 45%.

Is Boston Spa Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 259 families put Boston Spa Academy as their first choice for 238 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 225 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.