Cockburn John Charles Academy, Leeds

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Cockburn John Charles Academy on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils make excellent progress from typically low starting points, particularly those who are disadvantaged."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders consistently apply a robust and evidence informed attendance strategy."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have devised a curriculum that is tailored to the context of the local area and the needs of the pupils in the school."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "The school serves a diverse community."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders at all levels care deeply about the school, the pupils and the local community."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have devised a personal development programme that is tailored to the needs of the pupils and the context of the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue their relentless drive to improve attendance".

In 2026, pupils at Cockburn John Charles Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 46.7 in Leeds and 47 across England.

33% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 48% in Leeds and 47% in England.

That is up from 43.8 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.47: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 41.3, against 51.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Sports Studies and Multimedia.

For September 2026 entry, 183 families put Cockburn John Charles Academy as their first choice and 685 named it as one of their preferences, for 267 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Cockburn John Charles Academy are Cockburn School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 51.2); Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.8); University Technical College Leeds (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.7); and The Ruth Gorse Academy (1.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 51.4).

Cockburn John Charles Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Cockburn John Charles Academy is one of 6 schools run by Cockburn Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 236 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 82% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 42% to a further education college and 1% into work.

56.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 41.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (33%), Asian (24%) and Black (24%).

In 2026, 252 pupils (21.6%) received SEN support and 25 (2.1%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Cottingley Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is South Leeds Academy (at), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cockburn John Charles Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 404 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leeds (229), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Cockburn John Charles Academy issued 113 suspensions, 9.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Cockburn John Charles Academy are Windmill Primary School (0.4 miles), Hunslet Carr Primary School (0.6 miles), Park View Primary Academy (0.8 miles) and Hunslet Moor Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.