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Reviewed

The Grammar School at Leeds

Independent school · Leeds, LS17 8GS
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 11-18
  • From £19,224 pa
  • 1,410 pupils
We've reviewed this school • Unlock to access

GSAL pupils are encouraged and expected to ‘do it all’, resulting in great personal development and achievement. Some tell us they feel the pressure of making the most of the outstanding opportunities, both academic and extracurricular, that they and their parents’ value so highly. Recognising this the principal has strengthened and developed pastoral care and the positive benefits are beginning to show. Creation of an all-through school on one site will bring changes and together with the additional bursary funding will further widen diversity, a real strength of the school.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
1,410 ·
Sixth form numbers
349 ·
Religion
None
Fees
£19,224 pa
Local authority
Leeds City Council
Linked schools

Headteacher

Principal

Michael Hall

Since September 2025, Michael Hall, previously head of Ashford School. Before that, he was CEO and principal of GEMS Wellington Academy in Dubai for a year. Grammar school educated, he did an economics degree at the Liverpool and a master’s in

Entrance

Year 7: tests in maths and English in January (competitive – large numbers apply from over 50 primary schools) plus interview. Years 8-9: similar tests plus interviews in modern foreign languages and sciences and with head of year. Year 10:

Open days
See website

Exit

Around 10 per cent leave after GCSEs. In 2025, eight to Oxbridge, plus 32 medics/dentists/vets (including three 2024 leavers). Three quarters regularly to Russell Group or Guardian top 30 universities, reading a full range of academic subjects.

Latest results

In 2025, 71 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 62 per cent A*/A at A level (87 per cent A*-B).

A level - Average points score (2024)

School
44.53
LA avg.
33.43
Eng. avg.
34.45
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Teaching & learning

Strong results at A level and GCSE. Diamond model from years 7-11 with boys and girls taught separately; pupils pretty neutral about this but parents feel it works well. Consistently impressive GCSE results. Astronomy and Latin offered; all do RS

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • EPQ
  • GCSE

Learning support & SEN

Very well qualified and experienced SENCo, her office discreetly situated near the library, heads the individual needs team of ten qualified teachers and TAs who provide valuable continuity working across the whole school. With 300+ pupils identified

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
20.3 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & extracurricular

Masses of music, of all kinds – curriculum and 600 lessons per week on all orchestral instruments, plus piano, classical, guitar and drums. Performance opportunities abound with ensembles in every genre. Pupils have appeared on Songs of Praise, been

Sport

All sporting mod cons including swimming pool, squash courts and new 3G pitch and sports dome, leading to impressive success in a wide range of traditional sports (international and national success for netball, and national level rugby and hockey)

Ethos & heritage

Probably the largest independent day school in England, formed by a merger of Leeds Girls' High School and Leeds Grammar School in 2008. Girls' school founded in Headingley in 1876 by Yorkshire Ladies Council for Education; boys' school was founded

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

Senior deputy head pastoral heads up team that includes teaching year heads and form tutors (who gain a holistic view of each individual seeing them in and out of classroom). New student support service is highly valued by pupils and offers a ‘space

Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Senior school students are allowed to bring phones in but they are not allowed to be used inside during the school day, without explicit permission.

Updated Jun 2024

Pupils & parents

Most from north Leeds and surrounding area, eg Ilkley, Harrogate, Tadcaster, Wetherby and Wharfedale. Principal expecting primary school move will make Alwoodley Gates more attractive to commuting parents on the A61 and A659. Mainly professional

1,410
Number of pupils

Money matters

Over £1.5 million (more than six per cent of fee income) annually for means-tested bursaries (up to full fees), scholarships, music awards and temporary financial support grants – 100 pupils in the senior school currently receive a means-tested

Fee information
£19,224 pa

The last word

GSAL pupils are encouraged and expected to ‘do it all’, resulting in great personal development and achievement. Some tell us they feel the pressure of making the most of the outstanding opportunities, both academic and extracurricular, that they and

Inspection reports

What the school says

The Grammar School at Leeds is a vibrant independent day school, helping girls and boys aged 2-18 develop into happy, confident, curious and kind young people. At GSAL, your child will discover a world of opportunities. The school’s extensive campus offers superb facilities, and the breadth of academic and co-curricular activities is breathtaking, with students typically taking part in four to five hours of enhanced provision every week. The school provides fully co-educational teaching for ages 2-11, a mixed pastoral environment with single sex teaching for ages 11-16, and a fully co-educational sixth form.

Contact the school

Address

Alwoodley Gates
Harrogate Road
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS17 8GS
Get directions

Telephone: 0113 229 1552

Email: admissions@gsal.org.uk

Website: https://www.gsal.org.uk/

Local authority: Leeds City Council

View Larger Map

Have you considered?

LS-TEN

 Independent school · West Yorkshire, LS10 1NT ( miles)
  • Secondary
  • Co-ed
  • 11-17
  • Not provided
  • 44 pupils
View data & insights
See all schools
School data & information The Grammar School at Leeds Alwoodley Gates, Harrogate Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS17 8GS
1,410 Pupil numbers
742/668 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
349 Sixth form numbers

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Senior school students are allowed to bring phones in but they are not allowed to be used inside during the school day, without explicit permission.

Updated Jun 2024
Our review contains additional results data reported to us by The Grammar School at Leeds and is updated annually. See the review

GCSE-level results data is not reliably reported on for independent schools. We have chosen to show only the results achieved in individual subjects. Find out more

Subjects entered at GCSE level (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Religious Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 193 8
Physical Education/Sports Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 28 8
Music GCSE (9-1) Full Course 8 8
Latin GCSE (9-1) Full Course 16 9
History GCSE (9-1) Full Course 100 8
Geography GCSE (9-1) Full Course 43 8
English Literature GCSE (9-1) Full Course 193 8
English Language GCSE (9-1) Full Course 194 7
Drama & Theatre Studies GCSE (9-1) Full Course 41 8
Design & Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 41 7
D&T Food Technology GCSE (9-1) Full Course 21 8
Computer Studies/Computing GCSE (9-1) Full Course 44 8
Business Studies:Single GCSE (9-1) Full Course 95 8
Art & Design GCSE (9-1) Full Course 29 8

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
33.3%
LA avg.
15%
Eng. avg.
17.1%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
44.53
LA avg.
33.43
Eng. avg.
34.45

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCE A level 6 A*
Sociology GCE A level 19 B
Religious Studies GCE A level 20 A
Psychology GCE A level 34 B
Physics GCE A level 28 A
Physical Education / Sports Studies GCE A level 13 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 12 A*
Mathematics GCE A level 73 A
History GCE A level 32 A
Government and Politics GCE A level 41 A
Geography GCE A level 47 A
French GCE A level 7 A*
English Literature GCE A level 17 A
English Language GCE A level 34 B
Economics GCE A level 61 A
Drama and Theatre Studies GCE A level 7 A*
Design and Technology (Product Design) GCE A level 9 B
Computer Studies / Computing GCE A level 12 A
Chemistry GCE A level 72 A
Business Studies:Single GCE A level 37 A
Biology GCE A level 48 A
Art and Design GCE A level 13 A*

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Recent feeder schools

SEN overview

The Grammar School at Leeds is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

We are aware that sometimes able pupils may have special learning difficulties, notably those associated with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Our policy is to welcome such pupils. Experience shows these children make good progress in our structured and supportive environment.

We undertake a screening programme for all new pupils to the school, to identify learning difficulties. This is conducted by our specialist dyslexia teacher who is also responsible for teaching those pupils who have been identified as having a special need. This teaching is in small groups or individually, usually on a weekly basis. Regular reports and feedback is given to parents and teachers to establish an integrated support strategy. This is part of the LGS curriculum provision and there is no extra cost to parents.

In addition, any pupils who have already been identified as dyslexic before entering GSAL are assessed by our specialist teacher and then offered extra support lessons where appropriate. Please direct any queries to our Learning Needs Co-ordinator, who will be happy to discuss related matters with you.

0 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
20.3 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills Yes
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired
Our data explained
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