The Ruth Gorse Academy Explained

The Ruth Gorse Academy
Coordinates:53.7908°N -1.5353°W
Motto:Dare to achieve beyond what you are today
Established:2014
Religion:Mixed
Head Label:Principal
Head:Ben Mallinson
R Head Label:Deputy Chief Executive Officer
R Head:Leanne Griffiths
Chairman Label:CEO
Chairman:Sir John Townsley
Chair Label:Chair of Governors
Chair:Stephen Hall
Trust:The GORSE Academies Trust
Address:Black Bull Street
Country:England
Postcode:LS10 1HW
Dfeno:383/4101
Urn:140565
Ofsted:yes
Enrolment:1274
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:16
Houses:Chapman, Hersh, Maretta, Sinfield
Colours:
Red, Green, Yellow and Blue
Website:https://www.ruthgorse.leeds.sch.uk/

The Ruth Gorse Academy is a mixed secondary school located in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.

The school forms part of the Gorse Academies Trust which also includes The Farnley Academy, The Morley Academy and Elliott Hudson College.[1]

History

The Ruth Gorse Academy opened in September 2014, and was initially based in the grounds of The Morley Academy.[2] The school was named after a local teacher who died of cancer.[3] In 2016, the school moved into a building constructed on a site formerly owned by Yorkshire Chemicals,[4] which cost £23 million to build.

In July 2017, concerns were raised over the decision to appoint Liam Nolan as the school's principal, as he had previously resigned from the Perry Beeches Academy Trust after being criticised by the Education Funding Agency for 'significant weakness in financial management'. The school defended their decision to appoint him, describing themselves as a 'non-judgemental employer' and that they were 'entirely satisfied' Nolan had learnt from his mistakes.[5] Nolan left the school in November 2017.[6]

Teachers from the Ruth Gorse Academy were involved in the National Education Union strikes in February 2023.[7]

In October 2023, the school received the 'Secondary Provision of the Year' award at the National Association for Special Education Needs awards.[8] In December 2023, the school was rated as Outstanding by Ofsted for the second time, having previously been assessed in 2017.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: New Leeds free school head predicts fewer smaller sixth forms. The Yorkshire Post. 26 April 2016.
  2. Web site: Roberts . John . New principal’s vision for city centre free school . The Yorkshire Post . 10 August 2024 . 19 May 2014.
  3. Web site: Leeds school The Ruth Gorse Academy opens £23m buildings . BBC . 10 August 2024 . 14 September 2016.
  4. Web site: New Ruth Gorse free school scheme for city site . BBC . 10 August 2024.
  5. Web site: Leeds school says Liam Nolan has 'learned from mistakes' . BBC . 10 August 2024.
  6. John . Townsley . Change in Senior Leadership within the Academy. 10 November 2017 . https://www.ruthgorse.leeds.sch.uk/trga-website-content/uploads/2017/11/Changes-in-senior-leadership-letter-Nov-2017.pdf . 2 June 2022 .
  7. Web site: Teachers' strike: Yorkshire staff walk out in pay row . BBC . 10 August 2024 . 1 February 2023.
  8. Web site: Connolly . James . Ruth Gorse Academy: Leeds school ‘extremely proud’ as it wins prestigious award for special needs work . Yorkshire Evening Post . 10 August 2024 . 12 October 2023.
  9. Web site: Grant . Alex . Ruth Gorse Academy: Ofsted hails continued excellence of Outstanding Leeds school with 'no barriers to success' . Yorkshire Evening Post . 10 August 2024 . 1 December 2023.