Swarthmore Education Centre, Leeds
Swarthmore Education Centre is a special school for pupils aged 16 to 25 in Leeds.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Swarthmore Education Centre in detail
Swarthmore Education Centre in its own words
In its own words: "Our main aim is to encourage people who want to learn but might not feel comfortable in more formal educational institutions. We offer a wide range of courses and workshops, run community projects, have regular exhibitions, offer room hire at competitive rates, and have an onsite cafe."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Swarthmore Education Centre are West Oaks School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); Cockburn Reach Academy (1.4 miles); Future Horizons Leeds Ltd (1.6 miles, Requires improvement); and Fountain House Education Suite (1.6 miles).
West Oaks SchoolCockburn Reach AcademyFuture Horizons Leeds LtdFountain House Education Suite
Who goes there
Swarthmore Education Centre is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Leeds Rail Station, about 800 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Woodhouse Square, 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 1564 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Leeds (229), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
No inspection data available
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Approved
Section 41
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Swarthmore Education Centre
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Swarthmore Education Centre from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Swarthmore Education Centre is in Leeds; for families living there:
Apply to Leeds for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 88
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 22
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 22 serious and 66 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
21 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Leeds is 18.5 (the median across 308 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Leeds
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Leeds
Across Leeds council
Places available
10,015
Applications
9,313
Got 1st preference
83.2%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Leeds council (2026/27), not just this school.
Special educational needs provision
Swarthmore Education Centre is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Source: Get Information about Schools (GIAS), Department for Education.
Questions parents ask about Swarthmore Education Centre
What is the catchment area for Swarthmore Education Centre?
No fixed boundary. When Swarthmore Education Centre is oversubscribed, Leeds allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Does Swarthmore Education Centre have specialist SEN provision?
Swarthmore Education Centre is approved under Section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014, so parents can ask for it to be named in their child's education, health and care (EHC) plan.
How do I apply to Swarthmore Education Centre?
Apply through Leeds's coordinated admissions process, naming Swarthmore Education Centre on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Swarthmore Education Centre?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 88 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 22 serious and 66 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 21 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Leeds is 18.5 (the median across 308 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Swarthmore Education Centre?
Swarthmore Education Centre is at 2 - 7 Woodhouse Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS3 1AD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)