The 10 best Leeds secondary schools for attendance - with the lowest absence rates

Senior Reporter

Published 22nd Apr 2026, 11:30 GMT

These are the best secondary schools in Leeds for attendance

The Government has released the latest attendance data for Leeds.

With the start of the 2026 exam season just over a month away, Leeds parents likely won’t be surprised to learn that some of the city’s top performing schools also have some of the best rates of children showing up for class.

This week, the Department for Education released its latest absence and attendance figures, covering the full 2024/25 school year.

The overall absence rate decreased to 6.78 per cent across England in 2024/25, down from 7.15 per cent in 2023/24, though is still higher than pre-pandemic levels (4.73 per cent in 2018/19). Both authorised and unauthorised absence decreased; authorised decreased by 0.20 percentage points to 4.48 per cent and unauthorised absence decreased by 0.17 percentage points to 2.30 per cent.

Using this data, the Yorkshire Evening Post has compiled a list of the 10 Leeds secondary schools with the lowest rates of pupils missing classes.

View our gallery below and see whether your child’s school made the list...

In the 2024/25 school year, Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, located on Ellerby Road, Leeds, had an absence rate of 4.6%.

1. Mount St Mary's Catholic High School

In the 2024/25 school year, Mount St Mary's Catholic High School, located on Ellerby Road, Leeds, had an absence rate of 4.6%. | Simon Hulme

In the 2024/25 school year, Trinity Academy Leeds, located on Torre Road, Leeds, had an absence rate of 4.8%.

2. Trinity Academy Leeds

In the 2024/25 school year, Trinity Academy Leeds, located on Torre Road, Leeds, had an absence rate of 4.8%. | James Hardisty

In the 2024/25 school year, Horsforth School, located on Lee Lane East, Horsforth, had an absence rate of 5.1%.

3. Horsforth School

In the 2024/25 school year, Horsforth School, located on Lee Lane East, Horsforth, had an absence rate of 5.1%. | Photo: Glen Minikin /rossparry.co.uk/YEP

In the 2024/25 school year, Abbey Grange CofE Academy, located on Butcher Hill, Leeds, had an absence rate of 5.1%.

4. Abbey Grange CofE Academy

In the 2024/25 school year, Abbey Grange CofE Academy, located on Butcher Hill, Leeds, had an absence rate of 5.1%. | Steve Riding

In the 2024/25 school year, University Technical College, located on Sayner Road, Hunslet, had an absence rate of 5.5%.

5. University Technical College Leeds

In the 2024/25 school year, University Technical College, located on Sayner Road, Hunslet, had an absence rate of 5.5%. | YEP

In the 2024/25 school year, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, located on Tongue Lane, Meanwood, had an absence rate of 5.6%.

6. Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School

In the 2024/25 school year, Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, located on Tongue Lane, Meanwood, had an absence rate of 5.6%. | YEP

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