Photo: Chris Heaton · CC BY-SA 2.0East Ardsley’s state schools outscore 62% of towns in England
At East Ardsley’s secondaries, 54% of pupils reach grade 5 in both English and maths, above both West Yorkshire’s towns (49%) and towns in England (45%). East Ardsley grades B for schools, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results: #47 of 91 in West Yorkshire. Ofsted is shown, not graded.
Town figures are pupil-weighted across the schools the grade uses; England’s are the average school.
What stands out about East Ardsley’s schools
Strong secondaries, weaker primaries
East Ardsley’s secondary results beat 74% of English towns; its primary results beat 45%. 61% of the town’s 11-year-olds meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England and 62% across Leeds. Every school’s result ↓
One trust runs much of it
5 of East Ardsley’s 5 state schools belong to 1 academy trust. Leodis Academies Trust runs 5 of them, including Woodkirk: 1,769 of the 1,769 secondary pupils. Who runs them ↓
Written from the Department for Education and Ofsted data on this page.
East Ardsley grades B for schools
Against every town in England with results; Wales publishes none.
The secondary figure lifts East Ardsley; the primary figure holds it back.
The primary figure: 4 primaries in the town, 678 pupils in results over three years. East Ardsley has 1 secondary of its own with GCSE results, too few to judge on, so the secondary figure uses the 8 graded secondaries in and within 3 km of the town (2,108 pupils in results). Mainstream state schools only (grammar schools included); special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19 colleges are listed below but not graded. Each school’s results are compared with every school in England, then weighted by its pupils.
Where East Ardsley’s 5 state schools are
Each school at its address, coloured by its own letter and sized by pupils. Open a school for its own page. The dashed shape is East Ardsley’s built-up area.
Most schools give places by distance once siblings are in, so the schools nearest a home matter more than any league table.
Which schools do better than their intake suggests
Schools with more pupils on free school meals tend to get lower results. The dashed line is the typical school in England for each level of free school meals; the band holds the middle two-thirds. A dot above the band is doing better than schools like it.
The share of pupils on free school meals runs from 11% at Hill Top Primary Academy to 46% at Blackgates Primary Academy. Against schools with the same intake, Hill Top Primary Academy does best: 78% with 11% on free school meals, where a typical school would reach 66%. 1 of 4 primaries are above the line.
Show as a table
| School | Free school meals | Result | Typical for that intake | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill Top Primary AcademyKS2 % | 11% | 78% | 66% | +12 |
| Westerton Primary AcademyKS2 % | 12% | 61% | 65% | −4 |
| East Ardsley Primary AcademyKS2 % | 15% | 60% | 65% | −5 |
| Blackgates Primary AcademyKS2 % | 46% | 49% | 56% | −7 |
Free school meals: pupils eligible now, DfE January 2026 census. The typical-school line is a straight-line fit across every graded school in England. It describes; it doesn’t grade: the School Grade uses results alone.
How school places work in East Ardsley
Leeds Council handles applications for every state school in East Ardsley, academies included. You apply to the council where you live, even for a school in another area.
When a school is full
Every school publishes its admissions rules. Children in care come first, then, at most schools, brothers and sisters of current pupils, then those who live nearest. Infant classes are limited to 30 by law. If you’re refused a place, you can appeal to an independent panel.
Useful: Apply for a primary place (GOV.UK) · Apply for a secondary place (GOV.UK) · How admissions criteria work
How full each school is
Pupils on roll as a share of the school’s official capacity. The black tick is 100%; 2 schools are at or over it.
DfE register of schools (GIAS), January 2026 census. Capacity often excludes a nursery class, so a school with a nursery can show over 100%.
5 state schools in East Ardsley
Each school’s own letter compares its results with every state school in England of the same phase: Key Stage 2 for primaries, GCSEs for secondaries. Open a school for its results, how its letter is worked out, Ofsted and a map.
Key result: Attainment 8 and grade 5+ English and maths (GCSEs, 2025/26 provisional) for secondaries; the share meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (KS2, DfE’s three-year average) for primaries. Pupils: the January 2026 school census. No letter: an infant or first school (no KS2 tests), a new school, a small cohort DfE suppresses, or a special school, nursery or college. Independent schools aren’t included.
Ofsted inspections
Each school’s latest inspection; report cards replace one-word judgements as schools are re-inspected.
Ofsted stopped giving one-word judgements in 2024. Until a school is re-inspected, its last overall judgement is its most recent single grade; a school judged years ago may have changed a lot since.
Since November 2025 Ofsted gives each area of a school one of five grades (exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention, urgent improvement) and says whether safeguarding is met, instead of one overall word. 0 of East Ardsley’s 5 state schools have a report card so far; the others show their last inspection under the old framework. Ofsted is never part of the School Grade.
1 academy trust
Academies are state schools run by a trust rather than the council: the trust employs the staff and can set its own curriculum and term dates. Admissions still go through the council.
| Run by | Schools | Pupils | Their letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leodis Academies TrustWoodkirk, Westerton, East Ardsley, Blackgates, Hill Top | 5 | 3,306 | A−B−C+C−A |
Where East Ardsley’s teenagers go at 16
In England young people stay in education or training until 18: a sixth form, a college, or an apprenticeship.
The state secondary in East Ardsley has its own sixth form. The nearest college is Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, a further-education college 3.6 miles away.
| College | Distance |
|---|---|
| Heart of Yorkshire Education GroupFurther-education college · WF1 2DH | 3.6 mi |
| Luminate Education GroupFurther-education college · LS3 1AA | 5.2 mi |
| Leeds College of BuildingFurther-education college · LS2 7QT | 5.5 mi |
| Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form CollegeFurther-education college · LS2 9BL | 5.9 mi |
118th of 322 English towns of 11,000 to 21,000
Ranked by School Grade, best first: the towns either side of East Ardsley, and the top and bottom of the group.
| # | Town | Schools | KS2 | Attainment 8 | Grade 5+ E&M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amersham Buckinghamshire | A+ | 79% | 64.3 | 83% |
| … | |||||
| 114 | Baildon West Yorkshire | B | 65% | 44.6 | 47% |
| 115 | Shaw Greater Manchester | B | 66% | 45.5 | 44% |
| 116 | Birstall Leicestershire | B | 62% | 48.5 | 48% |
| 117 | Sidmouth Devon | B | 63% | 46 | 49% |
| 118 | East Ardsley West Yorkshire | B | 61% | 49.2 | 54% |
| 119 | Uppermill Greater Manchester | B | 69% | 43.8 | 41% |
| 120 | Birtley Tyne and Wear | B | 65% | 45.8 | 45% |
| 121 | Conisbrough South Yorkshire | B | 60% | 48.2 | 58% |
| 122 | Alton Hampshire | B | 61% | 49.6 | 52% |
| … | |||||
| 322 | Sandown Isle of Wight | D− | 52% | 32 | 16% |
East Ardsley and the places around it
Coloured by School Grade.
| Town | Schools | KS2 | Att. 8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Ardsley 5 schools | B | 61% | 49.2 |
| Thorpe on the Hill 1 school · uses schools within 3 km · 1.5 mi | B | 64% | 46.3 |
| Morley 10 schools · 2.1 mi | A− | 67% | 51.5 |
| Lofthouse and Robin Hood 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 2.5 mi | B+ | 64% | 46.6 |
| Ossett 11 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.2 mi | A− | 70% | 49.1 |
| Batley 25 schools · 3.3 mi | B− | 65% | 44.2 |
| Gildersome 2 schools · uses schools within 3 km · 3.7 mi | B | 63% | 48.1 |
| Wakefield 34 schools · 3.7 mi | B+ | 61% | 48.7 |
Ossett has the best-graded schools nearby (A−). Small places often use the schools within 3 km, so neighbours can share schools.
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Expected standard at Key Stage 2. The share of 11-year-olds who reach the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together, in tests and teacher assessment at the end of primary school. We use DfE’s three-year average (2023–2025) to steady small schools.
- Higher standard. The share working at greater depth in all three. In East Ardsley: 9% (England’s average school: 8%).
- Attainment 8. A pupil’s GCSE grades across eight subjects, with English and maths counted twice, added up. 50 is roughly a grade 5 in every subject.
- Grade 5+ in English and maths. A strong pass in both. Grade 4 is a standard pass.
- Provisional. 2025/26 GCSE figures are DfE’s first release; revised figures follow in February, usually within a point.
- Progress 8. Not shown: there is none for 2025/26, because these pupils sat no KS2 tests in 2020 (Covid).
- Free school meals. Pupils eligible for free school meals now, from the January census: the usual measure of how many pupils come from low-income homes.
- Independent schools. Not included: they publish no results comparable with state schools’.
Questions about schools in East Ardsley
Are schools in East Ardsley good?
East Ardsley’s state schools earn a B against schools across England: primary results beat 45% of towns in England; secondary results beat 74% of towns in England, on Department for Education Key Stage 2 and GCSE results. School places are handled by Leeds council.
What is the best primary school in East Ardsley?
On Key Stage 2 results over 2023–25, Hill Top Primary Academy: 78% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, against 62% at the average school in England.
Do East Ardsley secondary schools have sixth forms?
Yes, it has one.
How do I apply for a school place in East Ardsley?
Through Leeds Council, for every state school including academies. Secondary applications close on 31 October (offers 1 March); primary on 15 January (offers 16 April).
How many schools in East Ardsley are full?
2 of 5 mainstream schools have at least as many pupils as places, on DfE’s January 2026 census. A full school still admits by its rules, usually distance after siblings.
How many state schools are in East Ardsley?
5 open state-funded schools are located in East Ardsley’s built-up area: 4 primary, 1 secondary and 0 other (special schools, alternative provision, nurseries and 16–19). Independent schools aren’t included.
Sources: DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), Key Stage 2 performance tables (2023–2025, three-year average) and Key Stage 4 (2025/26, provisional); Ofsted state-funded school inspections as at 30 September 2026 · DfE Get Information about Schools (16 October 2026), further-education and sixth-form colleges · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only. All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.