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John Smeaton Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy

Barwick Road, Leeds LS15 8TA · johnsmeatonacademy.org.uk · 0113 831 3900

On the mapSearch near LS15 8TA

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Apr 2024
GCSEs, 2024/25
29.5
average Attainment 8 score. Leeds 45.5, England 46
Last distance offered
2.76 mi
4.45 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Leeds Council
Demand for places
0.9
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
677
75% of 900 places
Local authority
Leeds
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
40.8%
First language not English
10.2%
School census 2025/26
Trust
The Gorse Academies Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 2.76 mi (4.45 km) from the school. Source: Leeds Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 156 families put the school first and 166 places were offered; 96% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 73 (Places 84)73September 2023: 87 (Places 119)87September 2024: 101 (Places 136)101September 2025: 138 (Places 157)138September 2026: 156 (Places 166)156Places 166
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261661560.996%
September 2025Sept 20251571380.9100%
September 2024Sept 20241361010.7100%
September 2023Sept 2023119870.7100%
September 2022Sept 202284730.9100%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20262.76 mi4.45 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 29.5, and 14.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Leeds it was 45.5, and across England 46.

In 2018/19 the average A level result was grade D+ (24.3 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 43.4 (England 46.3)43.42017/18: 37.3 (England 46.5)37.32018/19: 31.3 (England 46.7)31.32021/22: 34.8 (England 48.8)34.82022/23: 34.9 (England 46.3)34.92023/24: 32.5 (England 45.9)32.52024/25: 29.5 (England 46.0)29.5England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼29.546.0
▼14.3%45.4%
▼34.8%64.8%
▲58.0%40.5%
▼2.574.09

Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 139282)

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form6.1−0.9
Sixth form college12.2−1.2
Further education53.7+2.7
Other education1.4−0.5
Apprenticeship2.7−0.5
Employment3.4−4.2
Not in a lasting destination13.6+4
Activity not captured6.8+0.4

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

15/1616/1717/1818/192015/16: 19.5 (England 30.5)D2016/17: 25.3 (England 31.1)C-2017/18: 28.1 (England 32.1)C-2018/19: 24.3 (England 32.9)D+England 32.9
2018/19TrendAverage gradeProgress
25 studentsD+ (24.3)Below average -0.48
25 studentsD+ (24.4)Below average -0.48
Applied general9 studentsDist- (31.8)Average -0.40
7.1%AAB or better
72.7%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2017/1837C- (28.1)-0.28
2016/1731C- (25.3)-0.11
2015/1632D (19.5)-0.06

Published for the predecessor school (URN 139282)

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/20
Left in 2019/20Since 2016/17
University37+12
Apprenticeship17+4
Employment30+2
Not in a lasting destination13−2
Activity not captured3+1

Published for the predecessor school (URN 139282)

Ofsted

John Smeaton Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 30 April 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
30 Apr 2024
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Jan 2019

Earlier inspections

Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 139282), which Ofsted links to this one.

September 2019 to November 2025

  • Jan 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
  • Oct 2019Monitoring visitEffective action

Before September 2019

  • Jan 2019Inadequate
    Outcomes for pupilsInadequate
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentInadequate
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareInadequate
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective

    Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 139282)

  • Dec 2016Requires improvement
    Outcomes for pupilsRequires improvement
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective

    Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 139282)

What parents said

72% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (65 replies, to 7 April 2025).

Recommend
72%
Replies
65
11% · 7 Apr 2025
Child is happy at school▼79% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼81% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼78% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼80% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼75% agreeEngland 88%
Told what child will learn▲91% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼78% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼85% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲94% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼75% agreeEngland 80%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼70% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 88% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲60% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 57% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need●69% agreeEngland 68%

based on 26 parents (40%) with SEND

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