about
us

The LLA is a rapidly growing consortium of organisations that was formed in late 2019 by a group of leaders committed to improving education across Leeds.

The member organisations currently support 125,000+ learners at every age range, from early years to adult. We have come together to bring our commonwealth of resources to reduce inequality by improving outcomes for all the learners of the communities that we serve by being inclusive, collaborative and ambitious.

The LLA is a charitable Trust which binds all member organisations together through a Memorandum of Understanding. Some schools have additionally chosen the LLA as their Foundation Trust whilst other (academy) schools are part of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and other organisations have their own Foundation.

We serve the city of Leeds and its communities. We have the highest levels of ambition for every learner in the communities that we serve (not just those that learn with us now). We believe those ambitions will be achieved by using our resources generously, ethically and equitably, by working cooperatively, promoting excellence, social justice, creativity, opportunity, peace and cohesion.

We serve the city of Leeds and its communities. We have the highest levels of ambition for every learner in the communities that we serve (not just those that learn with us now). We believe those ambitions will be achieved by using our resources generously, ethically and equitably, by working cooperatively, promoting excellence, social justice, creativity, opportunity, peace and cohesion.

The LLA prioritises inclusion by supporting communities, strengthening and broadening leadership, innovating, using and promoting research, developing skills and performance, improving access to employment, sharing expertise, developing people and advocating for learners that face disadvantage and discrimination. We promote digital and technological expertise. We champion the poorest, environmental regeneration and we are anti-racist.

The LLA prioritises inclusion by supporting communities, strengthening and broadening leadership, innovating, using and promoting research, developing skills and performance, improving access to employment, sharing expertise, developing people and advocating for learners that face disadvantage and discrimination. We promote digital and technological expertise. We champion the poorest, environmental regeneration and we are anti-racist.

We are

inclusive

collaborative

ambitious

Simon Flowers OBE
CEO

The Leeds Learning Alliance has grown and developed despite the challenges many, if not all, organisations have faced recently – most notably the pandemic, staff shortages and ongoing financial pressures.

The gaps between the most deprived in our communities and those that face fewer barriers is widening. The result of this is worsening education, health and employment outcomes for the children and young people in these more challenged communities. Repeating the same offer and leaving children and young people at risk during the key transitions will only lead to a continuation and exacerbation of this inequality.

The LLA strategic plan aims to focus our collaborative work in a way that will deliver a change in outcomes for children, young people and families. Clearly, there is much to do, and the work ahead of us is not the easy path but rather work that has not been effective to date because of its complexity and challenge.

We anticipate some national legislation and policy changes over the next months and years. This will be an opportunity for the LLA to develop our partnership and our offer. I have been heartened by the commitment shown by leaders to the partnership, to the agenda we face and to the ‘hard yards’ we plan to travel together.

Paul Brennan
Independent Chair

Our alliance came together to strengthen the ways in which we support the children and young people of Leeds. The alliance is growing rapidly, and now represents over 80,000 full time learners across the city. As a group of successful colleges, universities, schools, academies, charities, settings, and public services, our work is committed to Leeds’ ambition to be a strong economy in a compassionate city.

The Leeds Learning Alliance was set up to bring the commonwealth of this great city to the benefit of its children. When we consider the commonwealth of Leeds, many of us immediately think of the great treasures of the city: Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United, our universities and the stunning wealth within the city council remit (museums, galleries, theatres, parks, civic buildings etc). Actually, the greatest treasure of this great city is our young people.

The Leeds Learning Alliance has the highest ambitions for its learners, their families and our community. Those ambitions include every single member of that community, not just those that already know success.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to creating hope for our children, our young people, our city… our future.

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We serve the city of Leeds and its communities. We have the highest levels of ambition for every learner in the communities that we serve (not just those that learn with us now). We believe those ambitions will be achieved by using our resources generously, ethically and equitably, by working cooperatively, promoting excellence, social justice, creativity, opportunity, peace and cohesion.

The LLA prioritises inclusion by supporting communities, strengthening and broadening leadership, innovating, using and promoting research, developing skills and performance, improving access to employment, sharing expertise, developing people and advocating for learners that face disadvantage and discrimination. We promote digital and technological expertise. We champion the poorest, environmental regeneration and we are anti-racist.

we are

inclusive

collaborative

ambitious

The LLA is a rapidly growing consortium of organisations that was formed in late 2019 by a group of leaders committed to improving education across Leeds.

The member organisations currently support 125,000+ learners at every age range from early years to adult. We have come together to bring our commonwealth of resources to reduce inequality by improving outcomes for all the learners of the communities that we serve by being inclusive, collaborative and ambitious.

The LLA is a charitable Trust which binds all member organisations together through a Memorandum of Understanding. Some schools have additionally chosen the LLA as their Foundation Trust whilst other (academy) schools are part of a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) and other organisations have their own Foundation.

Simon Flowers OBE
CEO

“The Leeds Learning Alliance has grown and developed despite the challenges many, if not all, organisations have faced recently – most notably the pandemic, staff shortages and ongoing financial pressures.

The gaps between the most deprived in our communities and those that face fewer barriers is widening. The result of this is worsening education, health and employment outcomes for the children and young people in these more challenged communities. Repeating the same offer and leaving children and young people at risk during the key transitions will only lead to a continuation and exacerbation of this inequality.

The LLA strategic plan aims to focus our collaborative work in a way that will deliver a change in outcomes for children, young people and families. Clearly, there is much to do, and the work ahead of us is not the easy path but rather work that has not been effective to date because of its complexity and challenge.

We anticipate some national legislation and policy changes over the next months and years. This will be an opportunity for the LLA to develop our partnership and our offer. I have been heartened by the commitment shown by leaders to the partnership, to the agenda we face and to the ‘hard yards’ we plan to travel together.”

“Our alliance came together to strengthen the ways in which we support the children and young people of Leeds. The alliance is growing rapidly, and now represents over 70,000 full time learners across the city. As a group of successful colleges, universities, schools, academies, charities, settings, and public services, our work is committed to Leeds’ ambition to be a strong economy in a compassionate city.

The Leeds Learning Alliance was set up to bring the commonwealth of this great city to the benefit of its children. When we consider the commonwealth of Leeds, many of us immediately think of the great treasures of the city: Leeds Rhinos, Leeds United, our universities and the stunning wealth within the city council remit (museums, galleries, theatres, parks, civic buildings etc). Actually, the greatest treasure of this great city is our young people.

The Leeds Learning Alliance has the highest ambitions for its learners, their families and our community. Those ambitions include every single member of that community, not just those that already know success.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to creating hope for our children, our young people, our city… our future.”

Paul Brennan
Independent Chair

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*figures correct for 2023

LLA

England

FSM %

SEN Support %

EAL %

Our Ambassador

Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE is the official ambassador of the Leeds Learning Alliance.

Jamie is a former professional rugby league player who played his entire professional career with Leeds Rhinos, where he won seven Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges, three League Leaders’ Shields and one Challenge Cup Final. He also represented England and Great Britain at international level.

More recently, Jamie has been appointed as the first-ever head of culture, diversity and inclusivity in the history of Leeds Rhinos.

Jamie attended the official launch of the Leeds Learning Alliance at Headingley Stadium in November 2019, where we welcomed various guests from across the Leeds Learning Alliance.

The launch event, which featured a speech from Kevin Sinfield and a performance from Bankside Primary School’s choir, was a chance for colleagues from across the alliance to meet, share practices and discuss the core values in which we all share.

We are excited to have Jamie as the first official ambassador as we know his core values are reflective of ours.

Our Aims and objectives

We will support improved education outcomes for all learners in Leeds by working together to support the city’s inclusive growth strategy.

In Leeds education really matters – but it matters particularly to children and young people in disadvantage.

Though education does make a big difference to the life chances of young people – good exam results can open doors and lead people out of poverty – improving the educational performance of our learners cannot be achieved solely through changing what happens in the classroom and in a small range of academic subjects.

We believe that schools, colleges and universities cannot solve deep-seated social and economic inequality alone. By working together as a system with support from employers, the Council, Health partners, the police, the cultural and sporting sector and the third sector, we can play an enormous role in improving lives.

Our key work is systemic societal challenge in the city, having an impact on the most disadvantaged.

We will bring the full weight of our member organisations’ resources when working together, looking to improve:

  • The educational and skills offer
  • Pathways to employment
  • The mental health and wellbeing offer
  • Community services and programmes

Our Ambassador

Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE is the official ambassador of the Leeds Learning Alliance.

Jamie is a former professional rugby league player who played his entire professional career with Leeds Rhinos, where he won seven Super League Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges, three League Leaders’ Shields and one Challenge Cup Final. He also represented England and Great Britain at international level.

More recently, Jamie has been appointed as the first-ever head of culture, diversity and inclusivity in the history of Leeds Rhinos.

Jamie attended the official launch of the Leeds Learning Alliance at Headingley Stadium in November 2019, where we welcomed various guests from across the Leeds Learning Alliance.

The launch event, which featured a speech from Kevin Sinfield and a performance from Bankside Primary School’s choir, was a chance for colleagues from across the alliance to meet, share practices and discuss the core values in which we all share.

We are excited to have Jamie as the first official ambassador as we know his core values are reflective of ours.

Our Aims and Objectives

We will support improved education outcomes for all learners in Leeds by working together to support the city’s inclusive growth strategy.

In Leeds education really matters – but it matters particularly to children and young people in disadvantage.

Though education does make a big difference to the life chances of young people – good exam results can open doors and lead people out of poverty – improving the educational performance of our learners cannot be achieved solely through changing what happens in the classroom and in a small range of academic subjects.

We believe that schools, colleges and universities cannot solve deep-seated social and economic inequality alone. By working together as a system with support from employers, the Council, health partners, the police, the cultural and sporting sector and the third sector, we can play an enormous role in improving lives.

Our key work is systemic societal challenge in the city, having an impact on the most disadvantaged. We will bring the full weight of our member organisations’ resources when working together, looking to improve:

  • The educational and skills offer
  • Pathways to employment
  • The mental health and wellbeing offer
  • Community services and programmes