Posted on January 28, 2013

The Department for Education last month approved our proposal for the largest Free School in the country to be located in Leeds City Centre to the south of the River Aire.

Working in partnership with the Leeds Sustainable Development Group and The Ruth Gorse Academy, the school will deliver educational ‘excellence’ to 1,500 secondary students, up to the age of 19. The Ruth Gorse Academy has a reputation for achieving outstanding education under Executive Principal, John Townsley.  The new school will deliver outstanding education in an area with the potential to become a truly sustainable community.

In a statement John Townsley said, “This is a really important development for young people and their families in Leeds. We have a track record in The Gorse Academies Trust of creating truly outstanding schools and it is our determination to ensure that this is replicated in Leeds City Centre. We appreciate the contribution this project will make to the learning community and are really excited at the prospect of working to deliver an excellent new facility at the heart of our city centre.”

The southern part of Leeds City Centre between the River Aire and the motorways (City Centre South) has tremendous development potential. There are some 210 acres (85 hectares) of vacant or under-utilised sites and premises which could accommodate some 8-12,000 new residential units on brownfield land. Significant investment in social infrastructure such as schools, health centres and community facilities is vital to the creation of a sustainable urban community in this area. By providing a critically important part of this infrastructure, the proposed Ruth Gorse Academy will encourage young families to remain within the urban core, and entice new long-term residents with families to move to this highly accessible area. We have created a unique opportunity with the Free School movement to make a significant difference to the next generation of children in Leeds.