The school was founded in 1972 and had its first comprehensive intake in 1974. Its predecessors were the Leeds Modern School, a boys' grammar school (founded 1845) attended by Alan Bennett, and Lawnswood High School for Girls, a girls' grammar school (founded 1854), which moved to the current Lawnswood site in 1932.
The sixth form was judged as Grade 2 and "consistently good" in the 2009 Ofsted inspection, but the school as a whole was rated as Grade 4 (Inadequate) for overall effectiveness.[1] and consequently placed into special measures.[2] During an early 2011 Ofsted visit, the school was judged to be "making good progress in all the key areas,"[3] and in July 2011 the school was taken out of special measures.[4] In late 2013, Ofsted rated the school Grade 2 (Good) for overall effectiveness.[1]