Conversations with headteachers: Ruth Gorse Academy in Leeds on the student journey and beyond

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00:00My name is Ben Mallinson and I'm the Principal of the Ruth Gorse Academy in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

00:04Tell me a little bit about the Ruth Gorse Academy.

00:07So the Ruth Gorse Academy is a true city centre school.

00:11We are based right in the heart of the city and students come from all over the south region of

00:18Leeds and we're really privileged to have such an eclectic mix of young people come together

00:24with one common goal and that's to ensure that they're able to achieve their life ambitions

00:29and go on to destinations of choice, whether that be through employment, training or apprenticeships.

00:36Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? How long have you been a Principal there?

00:40I started as a Principal in September 2020. I was previously the Vice Principal back in 2016 and 17

00:50so it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to return here as the Principal in 2020.

00:54My teaching background is predominantly in physical education and I spent 10 years in a

01:00neighbouring authority and in 2016 I chose to come over to the Leeds local authority and work for

01:08a reputable multi-academy trust that's renowned in terms of ensuring that students achieve

01:14exceptional outcomes but also supported by truly exceptional pastoral care.

01:20Ian, what sort of sets the Ruth Gorse Academy apart from other schools?

01:25Well I would describe the Ruth Gorse Academy as a magical place. I think we're exceptionally unique,

01:31maybe that is potentially biased but I believe that if you are going to work in a true city

01:38centre school you have to buy into the ethos and what the school stands for. The school is

01:44named after Ruth Gorse and she was a colleague within the Gorse Academy Trust who really went

01:50above and beyond and that is our school motto which is dare to achieve beyond what you are today

01:55and that's truly embodied in all that we do. So what makes us unique are three things. Firstly,

02:00it's around ensuring that students from disadvantaged backgrounds achieve exceptional

02:07outcomes and have the gift of choice to go on to those destinations at post-16. Secondly,

02:14we ensure that we raise aspirations amongst our young people. Whilst we have a broad balanced

02:19aspirational curriculum, it's about ensuring that students recognise that there's a wider

02:26world out there and to really go on and flourish in their adult life we need to provide them with

02:31much more than the national curriculum. And thirdly, and I think this is really important,

02:39is around enrichment opportunities. We recognise that it's not just about clubs and teams which

02:45are of utmost value to us but also it's about experiences in school that are memorable,

02:51that they are the things that really shape a character that young people are able to reflect

02:56upon in their communities and with their family members and say today I did something amazing

03:01and that if that changes their life's direction by just one degree and they go in a slightly

03:06different direction so that they were destined for then we've done our job because ultimately

03:10we want them to go on to amazing things and hopefully we've been part of that journey.

03:14We recognise that being a teenager going to second school is exceptionally challenging

03:20but we want young people to feel exceptionally well cared for, that they have somebody to speak

03:25to but also that those strong bonds and relationships are the foundation for exceptional

03:30things being achieved at the Ruth Gorse Academy. I'm really proud of our staffing profile and I

03:34have to say we invest a lot of time in staff development because we want young people to

03:39have the very best and they deserve the best in particular those from disadvantaged backgrounds

03:44so we invest time in our teaching staff and non-teaching profile to ensure that they are

03:49the best within their roles and so as a consequence young people have a brilliant provision.

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