Key Points
- The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has announced plans to refurbish and upgrade its sixth form centre.
- The project is intended to improve independent learning, collaboration, and student well-being.
- The redesign will cover two floors and create a modern space for Year 12 and 13 students.
- Planned features include a new common room, a quiet study room, an enhanced dining area, and improved lighting and acoustics.
- Other elements include a cascading living wall, sustainable features, and a dedicated sixth form entrance.
- GSAL says the development is part of wider investment across its 140-acre campus, following the opening of The Cryer in 2025.
- Principal Michael Hall and assistant head and director of sixth form, Laurel Rees, both said student input helped shape the plans.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) May 6, 2026 – The Grammar School at Leeds has announced plans to refurbish and upgrade its sixth form centre as part of a wider programme of investment in its campus, with the school saying the project is designed to create a more inspiring environment for older pupils to study, collaborate, and relax.
As reported by the school, the redesigned sixth form centre will support students in Year 12 and Year 13 as they move from GCSE study to a more independent, university-style approach to learning. The project spans two floors and is intended to provide a modern environment that balances academic work with social space.
What changes will the refurbishment include?
According to GSAL, the refurbishment will include a redesigned student common room with flexible areas for collaboration, plus a dedicated quiet study room for individual work. The school also plans to create an enhanced dining area with a café-style feel so students can use the space informally for study and socialising.
GSAL says the upgrade will also bring improved lighting and acoustics to make the space brighter and calmer. Other planned features include a cascading living wall, improved energy efficiency, recycling stations and a striking dedicated entrance for sixth form students.
How does the project fit into wider campus investment?
The school said the sixth form centre redevelopment sits within its ongoing investment in its 140-acre campus. That programme follows the opening of The Cryer, GSAL’s performing arts centre, in 2025.
GSAL has also described the new centre as an exclusive space for sixth form students with a sophisticated look and feel. The school said it will complement other recent improvements, including the refurbishment of the Lawson Library and development of The Cryer.
Why does GSAL say the redesign is needed?
Principal Michael Hall said the school is investing in the sixth form centre to provide “an exceptional environment” for students. He said the new developments will support academic success while also encouraging independence, collaboration, and community as students prepare for life beyond GSAL.
Laurel Rees, assistant head and director of sixth form, said the aim is to give students choice over how they spend their time, whether that is independent study, collaborative work, or relaxation. She added that the sixth form student council had influenced the plans, including the need for flexible seating and spaces that work for both group and individual study.
What did the school say about student wellbeing?
GSAL has linked the redesign to student well-being as well as academic use. The inclusion of a living wall, improved acoustics, and brighter lighting is intended to make the space feel calmer and more supportive.
The school also said the enhanced dining area and social spaces are meant to help students relax and spend time with their peers. The overall aim is to create a place where students feel “inspired, supported and included”, according to Rees.
What is the background to this development?
GSAL has been investing in its facilities over a number of years, with earlier work including a major sixth form and refectory upgrade in 2017. The school already describes its sixth form as having dedicated study, common room, café, and garden spaces.
The latest announcement continues that pattern of improvement and comes after other campus projects, including the opening of The Cryer in 2025. In that sense, the sixth form centre plan appears to be part of a longer-term strategy to keep the school’s facilities aligned with student needs and broader educational expectations.
What could this mean for sixth form students?
For current and future sixth form students, the changes could mean more usable space for both focused study and group work. The upgraded layout may also make the transition into sixth form feel more structured and closer to a university-style setting, which is what GSAL says it wants to support.
The development may also improve how students use the building day to day, especially if the quieter study areas, café-style dining space, and flexible seating meet the needs identified by the student council. More broadly, the project could strengthen the appeal of GSAL’s sixth form for families looking for a school that invests in specialist post-16 facilities.
